Insecurity
Gunmen Abduct Wife, Children Of Kwara State Lawmaker
The abductors arrived in a large group, firing their guns indiscriminately before swiftly taking the victims into the nearby woods
Ilorin, Kwara State – A group of gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, stormed the residence of Hon. Lawal Ayanshola Saliu, the lawmaker representing Ipaiye/Malete/Olooru of Moro Local Government in the Kwara State House of Assembly, and abducted his wife and two children in the early hours of Monday, October 16, 2023.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants, heavily armed with AK-47 rifles, launched attacks at about 1 a.m., taking advantage of the cover of darkness.
They reportedly fired multiple shots into the air to intimidate and disorient neighbours, effectively creating a chaotic and fearful atmosphere before abducting the victims.
A community leader in Shao, where the lawmaker’s residence is situated, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Tuesday.
The leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the atmosphere of terror and confusion that descended upon the quiet community during the attack.
“The abductors arrived in a large group, firing their guns indiscriminately before swiftly taking the victims into the nearby woods,” he reported.
“Their current whereabouts remain unknown. However, one of the abductors, who made contact with the family, has not yet made any ransom demands. He claimed to be separate from the group in the forest and has not settled on an agreed price.”
“In the meantime, it has been recommended that the lawmaker relocate from the town,” the source added.
The chairman of the state vigilantes, Alhaji Ibrahim Saka, also confirmed the incident.
“Yes, it’s accurate, and we’ve deployed some of our personnel to search the forest in hopes of rescuing them,” he affirmed.