Kidnappers abduct civil servant, demand N100m ransom

Some suspected kidnappers have abducted a Lagos State civil servant, Ebenezer Oluwadamilare, in his house in Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro learnt from family sources that the Ondo State indigene was about to enter his house in the Imagbon, Sagamu area of Ogun State last Thursday, when some gunmen, who had trailed him on a motorcycle attacked him.

They were said to have driven him away in his car before contacting the family some days later.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers demanded N100m and had refused to reduce the ransom.

He said, “The abduction took place around 11pm when he was returning from work.

“His wife had heard him at the gate, and was opening the gate when the kidnappers started shooting into the air.

“They came on a motorcycle and held him at gunpoint. Nobody could come out because everybody was scared. They drove him away in the car.”

Our correspondent learnt that the car was later found in a bush around Igbo Olomu, a neighbouring community.

A source said the kidnappers called the family and demanded N100m as ransom.

“They said if the money was not paid, they would kill him. They tortured him and made his wife listen to his scream.

“All attempts to make them reduce the money have been futile; everybody is confused right now,” the source said.

It was learnt that the wife of the victim, Tope, was already looking for a buyer for the family house to raise part of the money.

A source said, “She has been running helter-skelter. Their marriage is just six years and they have three kids. Each time they call her with a private number and she hears the scream of her husband in the background, she usually became traumatised.

“She has already put up the family house in Ikorodu for sale to raise part of money for the ransom.”

It was learnt that the matter had been reported at the Ogijo Police Station and the family had not got any feedback from the police.

The family members said they doubted if the police were doing anything about the incident.

When contacted on the development, Ebenezer’s wife said the family was already handling the matter, adding that she did not want anything that would jeopardise the life of her hubby.

“We are already on it. We don’t want any interference, please,” she said.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, denied that the police were informed of the case.

He said the family of the victim only dropped his picture and reported a case of missing person.

He said, “They dropped his picture at the police station and left.

“We have been on this matter for some time now.

“We always have a procedure whenever there is a kidnapping case.

“There is no police formation that will not take kidnapping serious because it is very embarrassing.

“They have not come to tell us officially of any ransom. The family has not put the police in the picture of what has been going on. We have a case of missing person and not of kidnapping.”