Gunmen on Friday kidnapped wife
of the Chairman, Academic Staff
Union of Universities, Osun State
University chapter, Mrs. Funmilayo
Abiona.
Abiona was abducted in Osogbo
around 7:30pm.
Our correspondent gathered on
Saturday that Mrs. Abiona closed
from her shop around Oke Bale area
of Osogbo and was heading home
to meet her husband, Dr. Oluseye
Abiona, when the hoodlums, who
had been on her trail, caught up
with her and forcefully took her
away after a hot argument.
The hoodlums, according to some
residents of the area, were dressed
in red shirts.
The abducted woman, who was
said to be driving Lexus car, was
with her two children when the
incident happened.
Mrs. Abiona was said to have
struggled with her captors, who
eventually overpowered her and
forced her into a red car, which they
used for the operation.
The hoodlums, out of anger, were
said to have smashed the rear
screen of the Lexus car, leaving the
children and driving away with
their target.
The abductors were said to have
called her husband to demand a
N50m ransom, saying his wife was
okay where she was being kept.
Efforts to speak with the ASUU
chairman were unsuccessful.
However, a source close to him said
the case had been reported to the
police.
The source said Mrs. Abiona was
allowed by her abductors to speak
with her husband when they called
to demand ransom of a N50m.
The source who pleaded
anonymity, said the case was
reported at the state Criminal
Investigation Department, Osogbo
on Saturday.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIOSUN,
Prof. Bashir Okesina, confirmed the
kidnap when our correspondent
called him.
Calls put across to the state Police
Public Relations Officer, Mrs.
Folasade Odoro, to confirm the
abduction were not successful. She
had yet to respond to the text
message sent to her as of the time
this report was filed.
Some armed hoodlums had in
November abducted a local
government boss in Osogbo.
The LG boss was said to have been
released after a N5 million ransom
was paid.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police
Command has warned that
kidnappers operating in the state
had deviced a new way of
dispossessing their victims of huge
sums of money.
The command said kidnappers now
abduct unsuspecting victims, get
their Automated Teller Machine
cards’ pin numbers and use them to
withdraw all the funds in their
(victims’) accounts.
The state Police Public Relations
Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, on
Friday explained that the victims
were always kept hostage until
money in their accounts were
exhausted with the ATM cards.
Expressing the need for members
of the public to be vigilant,
especially during the Yuletide
period, Mohammad, in a statement
issued in Port Harcourt, urged
Nigerians to only go out with their
ATM cards when necessary.
The police spokesman identified
some of the victims of the new
method of kidnapping and robbery
as passengers in public transport.
“The unsuspecting victim is usually
abducted, forced to reveal his ATM
PIN and kept hostage, while same
ATM card is used by the criminals to
withdraw money from his account.
“Such victim regains freedom only
after his bank account has been
exhausted.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode
Aderanti, on Friday urged officers in
the state command to shun
corruption while discharging their
duties.
Aderanti, who spoke with the News
Agency of Nigeria, said bribery and
corruption dehumanises officers
involved in the act.
He said, “I urge all police officers at
all levels to shun bribery and
corruption. Do not collect bribe that
will bring shame to your family.
“Run away from all forms of
misconduct that will lead you and
the command to disrepute.
“Bribery and corruption create an
impression that you have lost your
sense of decency completely.”
Aderanti stated that bail was free,
describing the request and
collection of such as extortion. He
stressed that any officer caught in
the act of receiving money for bail
would be dealt with.
“It is very shameful and it won’t get
us anywhere. I don’t see any good
you can do with such money. I don’t
want anybody to be arrested over
this shameful act, because I won’t
let such person escape it,’’ he said.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
