Date: 2021-10-16

Five members of the household of Oba Samuel Adelodun, the Owalobbo of Obbo-Ayegunle in the Ekiti Local Government area of Kwara State, were on Thursday kidnapped by gunmen on Osi/Obbo-Ayegunle road.

The police command noted that victims included the monarch's driver whose name was given only as Kunle, the monarch's security detail, Lawrence Abiodun, his maid, Mrs Bunmi Akanbi and her six-year- old twin daughters; Kehinde and Taiwo.

The victims were returning from Osi, a neighbouring community to Obbo-Ayegunle, in a Toyota Sienna bus when gunmen accosted them around 6.30pm and took them to the bush. The Sienna bus was reportedly abandoned on the road.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, appealed to members of the public to volunteer necessary information to the police on how to track the bandits and rescue the victims.

Okasanmi said the king of Obbo-Ayegunle reported the incident to the police, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo, had dispatched an anti-kidnapping team and other tactical units and vigilantes to apprehend the kidnappers.

He said, "The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the members of the public of a reported case of kidnap received from HRM Oba Samuel Adelodun, the Owalobo of Obbo Ayegunle in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, that on 14/10/2021 at 6.30pm, while in transit from Osi to Obbo Ayegunle, his driver by name Kunle, his security, Lawrence Abiodun, his maid, Bukunmi Akanbi and his twin baby girls, Taiwo and Kehinde aged six years were kidnapped by unknown number of armed men while his vehicle Sienna with the number plate bearing Owalobo of Obbo Ayegunle which was conveying the victims was abandoned on the road. "The commissioner of police wishes to advise members of the public with useful information that can aid the quick rescue of the victims to make such information available to the command. While assuring the good people of Kwara State of their safety and security at all times, the CP advises members of the public to be conscious of happenings around them and avoid movements in isolated and lonely routes at odd hours of the day."