Bandits Demand N500 Million Ransom for Kidnapped Kwara Road Construction Workers

Date: 2025-12-30

Families of five construction workers kidnapped in Kwara State have issued an emotional plea for government intervention following a N500 million ransom demand from their abductors. The workers were seized on December 15, 2025, while working on a state government road project along the Sabaja/Owa-Onire Road in Isin Local Government Area.

At a press conference in Ilorin on Monday, family spokesperson Mr. Dare Boyinbogun identified the victims as Ademola Afolabi, Abdullahi Lade, Emmanuel Okuwadare Kayode, Fatai Akin, and their driver, Yusuf. The families expressed frustration over what they described as government neglect, revealing that the kidnappers have refused to negotiate with them, insisting on dealing directly with the state government.

One of the victims' wives, Idayat Lade, shared the devastating personal toll of the crisis, revealing that she lost her baby due to the extreme emotional trauma caused by the abduction. The families are now calling for a top-priority emergency rescue operation and immediate welfare support for the households left without breadwinners.

"Since that moment, our lives have been suspended between hope and despair. They demanded the sum of 500m from us. How are we going to raise that?" he lamented.

According to him, the victims were innocent workers contributing to the development of Kwara State and Nigeria.

"They were not criminals or adventurers. They went to work believing they would return home safely. Instead, their families have been thrown into anguish and despair," he added.

While acknowledging the efforts of the police and other security agencies, Boyinbogun stressed that time was running out.

"Every passing hour deepens the trauma of the families, especially the wives, children and elderly parents who depend entirely on these men for survival.

"Many of these families have no other source of income. Beyond fear for their lives, there is now hunger, psychological distress and total uncertainty," he said.

The families, including wives and children of the abducted workers, appealed to the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts and treat the abduction as a top-priority emergency.

"We are appealing to the government to come to our aid. The government needs to establish direct communication with the affected families, provide welfare support and counselling, and strengthen security along construction corridors and rural roads to prevent further attacks," he said.

Appealing directly to the abductors, Boyinbogun said, "These men are fathers, sons and brothers. Please release them unharmed."

One of the wives, Idayat Lade, in tears, has pleaded for the release of her husband.

"Please let them release our husbands to us. We want them alive," she cried, revealing that she had lost a baby due to the emotional trauma caused by the abduction.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has ordered the police to fish out hoodlums who attacked women protesters near the under-construction Government House in Ilorin.

A viral video obtained by The PUNCH showed suspected hoodlums assaulting women who were protesting near the Government House gate during the Christmas holiday.

In a statement on Monday, the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said AbdulRazaq expressed outrage over the incident, describing the attack as unacceptable.

"Peaceful protest is a democratic right. The women are within their rights to express their views. We distance ourselves from the incident, as it does not represent our values as a government," the statement read.

The governor directed the police to identify and prosecute those responsible, adding that the government was not relenting on security.

Ajakaye noted that the governor had recently led the passing-out parade of armed forest guards tasked with flushing out kidnappers and terrorists from forests across the state, alongside increased deployment of security personnel to protect communities.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

YAKOOYO     Atunwa     Pius Abioje     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Ademola Kiyesola     Lanwa     Baboko Primary School     IDPU     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Ariyo     Tsado Manman     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Eleja Taiwo Banu     Amuda Bembe     Egbewole     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Awwal Jawondo     Alapansapa     Ishola Balogun Fulani     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Michael Nzwekwe     Salman Jawondo     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     Government House     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Nnazua     Maja     Magaji Erubu     IPSAS     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     Deji Ajani     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Rafiu Ibrahim     Mope Dasuki Belgore     Baba Issa Awoye     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Halidu Danbaba     Ejidongari     Okeose Christian Cementary     Siraj Oyewale     Offorjama     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Saad Belgore     Chief Imam Of Offa     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Gbemi Saraki     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Sun Qing Rong     Fatai Olodo     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Rotimi Atere     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Rafiu Ajakaye     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Seun Bolaji     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Kwara Politics     Ibrahim Mashood     Ganmo     Samari     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Olusin Of Ijara Isin     BECE     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Abdulwahab Ololele     A.O. Belgore     Borgu     Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists     Towoju     Durbar Festival     Saliu Shola Taofeek    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     Maryam Ado Bayero     Ilorin.Info     Minister     Haliru Yahaya     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Lateef Fagbemi     Olokoba Sulyman     Hausa     Kwara State Fish Farmers Association     Maigida     Moses Adekanye     Tunji Arosanyin     Ahmad Lawan     KWASSIP     Sobi FM     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     Kwara Volleyball Association     Idi-Ape     Olatunde Olukoya     Malete     Abdulwaheed Musa     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Jamila Bio Ibrahim     Igosun     Chief Imam Of Offa     Ibrahim Labaika     Fatai Olodo     Oju Ekun Sarumi     Apaola     Bello Oyebanji     Twitter     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Kamaldeen Kehinde     Ogbondoroko     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Olomu     Saka Onimago     Old Oyo     Omoniyi     CCB     Ashiru     Hassan A. Saliu     Salmon Babatunde Salmon     Radio SBS     Kayode Zubair     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Durosinlohun Atiku     Yusuf Mubarak     Gabriel Fashanu     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Ayekale     Hassan Saliu     PPS     Mumini Ishola Hanafi     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Saraki     Saka Balikis Kehinde     Kamoru Kadiri     Mogaji Aare     Baruba     Senate President     Sulyman Buhari     EFCC     Abdulrazaq Akorede     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Gobir     Local Government Pension Board     Fatimoh Lawal     Abdulkadir Jimoh     JAAC     Ubandoma     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd