Gunmen abduct Oyo corps member on Benin-Ore Expressway

A member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, Rofiat Lawal, has been kidnapped by yet-to-be-identified abductors along the Benin-Ore Expressway.

It was gathered from a Facebook post by a user, Agbakwara, on Wednesday that Lawal was returning from Benin, Edo State to report to her place of primary assignment on Tuesday when she was abducted.

Agbakwara noted that the abductors were demanding N20m for her release.

Agbakwara wrote, “My close friend, Lawal Rofiat Kofoworola, was kidnapped on her way from Benin to Ibadan to resume her PPA in Ogbomosho. She managed to call yesterday and told me she was inside an Ore-bound bus when she was taken.

“This is someone who has struggled all her life, supporting herself through university by working at the Dufil company in Benin. Now, kidnappers are demanding ₦20 million, and we don’t know what to do. Her parents are less privileged and can’t afford this.

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“I have reported to the NYSC secretariat in Ibadan and dropped her call-up number, but there has been no response. We are exhausted and desperate for help!

“Please, Nigerians, I need your support. If there is any way you can assist by spreading this message, reaching the authorities, or any help at all please do. She has been my close friend since my 100 level, and I haven’t been myself since this happened.”

The Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Odoba Oche, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Thursday.

He stressed that security operatives had been alerted to the situation for necessary action while saying that he was not aware if any ransom had been requested by the abductors.

“Her parents reported the incident to us yesterday. We were not aware of the incident before her parents reported it.

“We have contacted the National Headquarters, the Ondo and Edo states NYSC and we have also alerted security agencies for necessary action. I am not aware if the kidnappers have reached out to demand ransom.

“She went home to Benin without informing the NYSC authority against the instruction of NYSC. NYSC has continued to emphasise to corps members the need to always notify authorities before they travel and to also avoid night travels,” Oche said.