Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted five women, including a pregnant woman and a nursing mother, in Erinmope-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, and are demanding a ransom of ₦100 million for their release.

Narrating the harrowing incident on Tuesday, the head of the affected family, Muhammad Saliu Okanlawon, said the assailants stormed their residence on Saturday evening and whisked away five members of his household from the community, which borders Kwara State.

According to the 60-year-old cattle dealer, the abducted victims are the wives and children of his younger brother and son.

He identified the victims as Kehinde Mahmud, Adijat Hussein, Hawawu Suleiman, Fatima, and another Fatima.

Mahmud explained that the incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. when the gunmen invaded the house, firing sporadically to instil fear and confusion.

He added that security agencies were immediately alerted and responded promptly.

According to him, “The male members of the household were in the mosque at the time, so nothing was suspected. It was only after the attackers had left that we discovered five of our female family members were missing.

“I must commend the swift response of the security operatives. A combined team of the Police, Civil Defence, Amotekun Corps, and others mobilised and trailed the assailants, but they could not be tracked. Even the Area Commander came around.

“We later learnt that the kidnappers did not follow their usual route through Osin in Kwara State, but must have mingled with members of the community to conceal their identities.”

The distraught family head revealed that the abductors have only contacted them once since Saturday night to demand a ₦100 million ransom, after which there has been no further communication.

“They called just once to demand ₦100 million, and since then we have not heard from them again. We are using this medium to appeal to the government to come to our rescue.

“We honestly do not know what to do anymore. One of the victims is nine months pregnant; you can imagine the trauma she must be going through.

“This is a very painful experience for our family,” he lamented.

Mahmud described the incident as strange and unprecedented in the community, noting that such an attack had never occurred in Erinmope-Ekiti.

“We have lived in this community for over 70 years, even though we are originally from Kwara State. Erinmope is the only home we know, and we have never experienced anything like this before,” he said.

Mahmud also lamented the family’s inability to raise such a huge sum of money, stressing that paying the ₦100 million ransom being demanded was far beyond their means.

When contacted, the Ekiti Amotekun Corps Commander, Brigadier General Olu Adewa (retd.), said information on the incident is still sketchy, promising to provide further details after investigation by the corps.

A community leader who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity confirmed the development, adding that security agencies have been mobilised towards securing the release of the victims. (Nigerian Tribune)

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