Gunmen abduct LP Ward Chairman in Edo, demand ₦50 million ransom

By Jethro Ibileke

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a Labour Party (LP) ward chairman, Valentine Okasime Olowojoba, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

Olowojoba was reportedly seized on Saturday along the Auchi-Benin-Ibillo Road, near Sasaro, an area notorious for abductions.

Sources said he had travelled to Auchi to pick up his children and a househelp ahead of school resumption when the attack occurred.

According to family sources, the kidnappers initially abducted the entire group but later released the children and househelp, taking only Olowojoba into the bush. His vehicle was abandoned at the scene.

A close relative, speaking to journalists on Monday in Benin City, disclosed that the kidnappers have contacted the family and are demanding ₦50 million for his release.

“Valentine Okasime Olowojoba, Ward 1 Chairman of Labour Party, had gone to Auchi to fetch his children after a holiday. On their way back, they were attacked and he was taken. Due to a network outage in the area, we couldn’t reach anyone until around noon on Sunday,” the relative said.

He added that other individuals were reportedly abducted in the same area on Sunday.

Efforts to get confirmation from the Edo State Police Command were unsuccessful as calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu, went unanswered.