Gunmen Kidnap Labour Party Chieftain In Edo, Ade Bendel In Ogun
LAGOS MAY 2ND (NEWSRANGERS)-A Labour Party Ward 1 Chairman in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr Okasime Olowojoba, has reportedly been abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Auchi–Benin–Ibillo Road.
DAILY POST learnt that the Labour Party chieftain, who is also a realtor, was reportedly kidnapped on his way to Igarra, the administrative headquarters of the local government, from Auchi. He was returning from Auchi on Saturday, where he had gone to bring his children home ahead of the school resumption on Monday, 28 April 2025. He was kidnapped at a notorious bad spot within the Sasaro community, an area previously known for violent abductions
According to a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity: “Valentine Okasime Olowojoba is the Ward 1 Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. He went to Auchi to collect his children and wife, who had been there for the holidays.
“He went to bring his children back for school resumption on Monday. On their way back that Saturday, he was kidnapped, and it happened on a day when the network in the area was completely down until Sunday.
“They were all initially taken into the bush by the kidnappers, but later the house help, children, and wife were released, and they went away with him. His vehicle was abandoned on the road.
“There was no network that Saturday; it was only restored around 12 pm on Sunday, and I learned from his brother that as of Monday (today), they are demanding a ransom of N50 million.
“I also learned that some other people were kidnapped in the same area on Sunday.”
The police have yet to confirm the incident.
In a related development, two people were reportedly killed after some gunmen invaded the Ilara town in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State and kidnapped a popular businessman known as Ade Bendel on Wednesday night.
PUNCH Metro learnt, in separate interviews with some residents of the town on Thursday, that the gunmen stormed the community at about 11 pm. and started shooting sporadically.
Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, the monarch of the town, Oba Mutiu Adedimeji, disclosed that two people were killed in the attack.
He narrated that the gunmen, upon abducting the businessman, escaped into the Republic of Benin and abandoned the victim’s vehicle along the road path.
Oba Adedimeji said, “Yes, the incident happened. They abducted Ade Bendel yesterday (Wednesday) night and killed two people in the attack.
“Some people were able to locate his vehicle at Sabe in Benin Republic, which means that was the route they took to escape.”
A youth leader in the community, who pleaded anonymity due to the nature of the incident, told our correspondent, that the gunmen trailed the businessman to his hotel before they began shooting sporadically.
The youth leader noted that a stray bullet from the shooting allegedly hit and killed two persons, including an employee of the hotel.
He said, “Some gunmen kidnapped Ade Bendel yesterday night at about 11 p.m. They trailed him to his hotel.
“They began shooting sporadically in the hotel and two people were reportedly killed because they were hit by stray bullets.
“A female employee at the man’s hotel was among the persons killed in the incident.”
Another resident, identified simply as Ade, told our correspondent that some persons sustained injuries while trying to flee due to the sound of gunshots.
He narrated that the community had been in a panic mood since the incident occurred.
Ade said, “The incident happened. We were hearing gunshots which caused people to panic. Two ladies sustained injuries after they fell into a ditch while trying to escape.”
When contacted for a reaction, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said she was working on getting the details of the incidents.
She had yet to update our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, a police officer in the area confirmed the incident to our correspondent but declined to comment on the casualties involved.
“The incident happened but I cannot say the number of casualties involved or give details of the incident,” the police officer said.
Punch & Daily Post
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Posted by News Rangers
on May 2 2025. Filed under National.
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