The family of four people abducted by suspected bandits in Abangbe Village, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, has appealed to the government for assistance after their abductors reportedly demanded ₦50 million for their release.
The victims, identified as Abike, Semiu, Sofiat and Ramadan, were reportedly kidnapped on October 25, 2026, in the community near Oke-Oyi.
Following the incident, the family said they sent a representative to the Ilorin East Local Government Secretariat to seek government intervention and financial support to secure the release of their relatives.
However, they alleged that the council chairman, Mallam Garba Olayinka Lukman Agbelere, advised them to negotiate with the kidnappers and find a way to raise the ₦50 million ransom.
The family also claimed they were told that the government could not defeat bandits at the moment and that they should do whatever they could to secure the victims’ freedom.
A family member expressed disappointment over the alleged response, explaining that they approached the local government because they could not afford the amount demanded by the kidnappers.
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The family appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara State Government, the police and other security agencies to urgently intervene and ensure the safe return of their loved ones.
They also called on well-meaning Nigerians to support efforts to secure the victims’ release.
Meanwhile, the council chairman has denied telling the family to raise the ransom or negotiate with their abductors.
Agbelere explained that he was not around when the attack occurred but sent representatives to the community to sympathise with the affected family.
He said he later visited the area alongside Commissioner Ali Jimoh to meet residents and discuss the security situation.
According to him, his advice to the community was that residents should remain vigilant and take measures to protect themselves because the government could not handle every security challenge alone.
The chairman also disclosed that some communities had contributed money to purchase firearms for protection against bandit attacks.
He mentioned his community, Apa Ado, Egbeyegi and Looru as examples of places where residents had reportedly acquired guns to defend themselves.
Agbelere insisted that the family did not mention any ransom demand during his visit, adding that their request was mainly for improved security.
However, he acknowledged that he had planned to send the party’s ward chairman to provide financial assistance to the affected family.
He explained that although the local government could not pay the entire ransom, it sometimes contributed money to help families secure the release of kidnapped relatives.
The council chairman further revealed that such contributions were sometimes made privately without publicly disclosing the amounts involved.
The incident has renewed concerns about insecurity in communities around Oke-Oyi and the challenges families face when trying to secure the release of relatives held by kidnappers.
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