By Ahmed Ajikobi
The people of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State are now living in fears as gunmen invaded the area and kidnapped a mother and her two children yesterday.
The woman and her children were said to be abducted at one of the filling stations in the area.
Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), confirmed the abduction of the three members of the community on Friday night.
The President of the association, Maj Gen Olayemi Lasisi Abidoye (rtd), in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Omu-Aran by the body’s spokesman, Olayinka Owolewa, described the incident as unfortunate.
The statement explained that some unknown gunmen stormed the Oko junction axis of Omu-Aran some minutes before eight, in the night on Friday and shot sporadically to the air to scare people away.
According to the retired military personnel, the gunmen later stormed a popular fuel station around the junction to abduct a woman and two of her children.
Maj Gen Abidoye (rtd), while commending the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti and members of his council for their sleepless night over security issues in the community, said members of the vigilante group had swung into action in search of the abductees.
According to him, some arrests were made on Saturday during a search for the abducted members of the community by the local vigilantes and other security agencies.
The ODA President, while assuring members of the community not to entertain any fear, appealed to both the State and Federal Governments to help double security apparatus around the community and its environs.
The statement disclosed that the community, in conjunction with police and other law enforcement agencies are doing everything possible to see that the abductees are rescued alive.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command spokesperson, SP Ajayi Okasanmi said the command was yet to receive any information regarding to the incident.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command yesterday confirmed the kidnapping of a mother, Raji Ajibike and her two children Raji Zainab and Raji Aliya at Omu-Aran Community in Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State.
This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi through press release, saying the command is in top gear to rescue the victims.
He narrated that the husband of the kidnapped mother and children, Raji Ibrahim of TAIISA Fueling Station reported the matter on Friday.
According to him, “The command also wishes to confirm an incident of kidnap reported by one Raji Ibrahim Abidemi of TAIISA Fuelling Station, Omu-Aran on 24th September, 2021 at about 8:20pm to the effect that his wife Raji Ajibike and his two daughters, Raji Zainab and Raji Aliya were abducted by unknown gunmen after firing shots to scare people away.
“Effort is still in top gear to get the victims rescued, the good people of Kwara are advised to continue to support the police command with information, sooner than expected the victims will be liberated.”
