Expiration Of 48-Hour Ultimatum: We’re Living In Anxiety — Family Of Abducted Kwara Farmer

The family of a 71-year-old farmer, Bamidele Mathew, abducted alongside his son in Kwara State, says it is living in anxiety following the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the kidnappers to pay a ₦20 million ransom.

The victims, indigenes of Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero Local Government Area, were abducted last Tuesday along the Idofin-Igbana axis while on their way to their farm.

Another son of the farmer, Kazeem, who narrowly escaped abduction, told LEADERSHIP that the gunmen emerged from the bush in large numbers, attacked them at gunpoint and whisked away his father and brother.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP on Sunday, the farmer’s eldest son, Sunday Ayanwale, said the ransom deadline had passed, while the kidnappers had not contacted the family since Friday.

“We are living in anxiety since the expiration of the ultimatum issued to us by the kidnappers. We are even more terrified by the refusal of the kidnappers to call us since Friday. We tried the phone number of our abducted father repeatedly, but it was switched off,” he said.

Ayanwale said the family had been unable to secure assistance and had raised only ₦1.3 million towards the ransom.

“We don’t know the situation of our father and our brother as I speak with you,” he said.

Asked about the family’s next line of action, he said they had resorted to prayers for divine intervention.

He renewed the family’s appeal to the Kwara State Government and Oke-Ero Local Government Council to help secure the release of the victims.

When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said: “We are doing the needful to secure the release of the victims.”

When contacted, the state commissioner of police, Adekimi Ojo said :” We are doing the needful to secure the release of the victims.”

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