Gunmen abduct Ekiti top civil servant, demand N20m ransom

GUNMEN have abducted a director in the Ekiti State civil service, Mr Olaniyi Ibidunmoye, who was said to be returning from a programme in Abuja.

The abductors, family sources told newsmen on Saturday, have contacted them and had demanded N20million as ransom for the release of Ibidunmoye.

The family sources said Ibidunmoye, a director in the Office of Ekiti State Surveyor-General, was abducted, on Wednesday, at Ibillo community in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, on his way from a church programme in Abuja.

The abduction of the civil servant, also a pastor of the Agape Christian Ministries, caused anxiety among workers in the state’s civil service.

He was reportedly taken away in his Lexus SUV car he was travelling in, which was later abandoned and is now with Ibillo Police station in Edo State.

According to a family member, “he was kidnapped on Wednesday and they have established contact with the family demanding a ransom of N20 million.

“The family has been going through emotional trauma and psychological torture since his abduction.

“We are pleading with his captors to release him unconditionally and allow him to reunite with his family. There is no way a salary earner can get N20 million in this era when government is owing arrears of salaries.

“We have reported to the relevant security agencies and they are working on clues to help our brother regain his freedom.”

His community in Ado Ekiti, through the Egbewa GRA Landlords Association, has also written a letter to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Chafe, to assist in freeing Ibidunmoye from his abductors.

In the letter dated March 9, 2017 and signed by the Chairman, Chief Remi Olowoloba and member, Prince Tunji Ogunlola, they urged security agencies to collaborate with their counterparts in Edo and other neighbouring states to ensure that Ibidunmoye is rescued alive.

The letter which was also copied to the Department of State Services (DSS), Ekiti State Command,  described Ibidunmoye as “a responsible and law-abiding citizen hence everything humanly possible should be done to help him regain his freedom.”