Kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N30 million for the safe return of two women who were abducted early Sunday morning in Igbaja, located in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
It was reported that the women were taken by armed attackers, suspected to be herdsmen, during the raid.
However, one of the women managed to escape and has since informed the authorities and the local community.
The two women who were abducted are believed to have been taken to a forest area near Igbaja and Oke-Ode, raising concerns about their safety.
According to PUNCH, Femi Yusuf, Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, announced on Thursday that the kidnappers had contacted the families of the two women, demanding N30 million as ransom for their release.
Yusuf added that efforts are being made to search the forest for the victims and their kidnappers, stressing that both the state and local governments are working to ensure their safe return.
“The information I received from the families is that the kidnappers are demanding N30million for their release,” Yusuf said.
He said, “Currently, soldiers, police, and local vigilantes are in the forest searching for the victims and possibly the kidnappers.”
Yusuf also expressed his sorrow over the death of Chief Lukman Balogun, the Jagun of Igbaja land, who had been leading the local vigilante team in the search for the kidnapped women.
He acknowledged that the loss of the vigilante leader had deeply affected the community.
“We are still mourning the late Jagun, who is my uncle in Igbaja. We will do everything in our power, in collaboration with the state government and security agencies, to apprehend the kidnappers who have been terrorising our people,” he added.
On Wednesday, it revealed that Chief Lukman Balogun, a prominent vigilante commander known as “Jagun,” was killed during a gunfight with suspected Fulani herdsmen in the Igbaja community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The clash occurred on Monday evening during an operation to rescue three individuals who had been kidnapped by the herdsmen.
Reports indicate that Jagun was tracking the kidnappers, who had earlier abducted a well-known resident of Igbaja, when he was killed on the Ogele-Yaaru road.
At the time of the incident, the three kidnapping victims, whose identities remain undisclosed, were still being held by their captors.
Local sources confirmed that Jagun, respected for his leadership in community security, was shot during a fierce exchange of gunfire.
The source also noted that Jagun’s death had created a major void in the local vigilante group, as many mourn the loss of a man who risked his life to protect others.
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Tensions in the area have been high following recent incidents involving suspected herdsmen, with local communities calling for increased security measures.
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents gathered at the palace of the Elese of Igbaja to express their anger and grief over Jagun’s killing and the abduction of several community members.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, some of the protesters voiced their desire to have Bororo people removed from their community.
“We are at the palace of the Elese — women, men, young, and elderly people — and we are saying we don’t want them in our community anymore.
“They have killed Jagun, the grand local commander of Ifelodun. They have killed him, and our lives are no longer safe since the person who was fighting the criminals is now dead,” one of the protesters said.
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