Gunmen Abduct Oyo Corps Member On Benin-Ore Expressway

A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Oyo State, Rofiat Lawal, has been abducted by yet-to-be identified gunmen along the Benin-Ore Expressway.

A friend of the abductee, Agbakwara, disclosed this on her Facebook post on Wednesday where she narrated that the corps member was on her way from Benin City, the Edo State capital en route Ibadan to Ogbomoso to report at her NYSC place of primary assignment, when she was abducted on Tuesday.

Agbakwara further disclosed that Lawal’s abductors were demanding N20million ransom before she could secure her freedom.

“My close friend, Lawal Rofiat Kofoworola was kidnapped on her way from Benin to Ibadan to resume her PPA in Ogbomosho. She managed to call yesterday and told me she was inside an Ore-bound bus when she was taken.”

The distraught Agbakwara further narrated that the abductee struggled through school by working at a company in Benin City to support her education.

She lamented how she would be able to raise the sum of N20million given her poor background.

“This is someone who has struggled all her life, supporting herself through university by working at the Dufil Company in Benin. Now, kidnappers are demanding ₦20 million, and we don’t know what to do. Her parents are less-privileged and can’t afford this.

“I have reported to the NYSC secretariat in Ibadan and dropped her call-up number, but there has been no response. Please, Nigerians, I need your support. If there is any way you can assist by spreading this message, reaching the authorities, or any help at all please do. She has been my close friend since my 100 level, and I haven’t been myself since this happened,” Agbakwara added.

Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Odoba Oche, confirmed the incident on Thursday, stressing that security operatives had been alerted to the situation for necessary action.

Oche also said he was not aware if any ransom had been requested by the abductors to release the corps member.

“Her parents reported the incident to us yesterday (Wednesday). We were not aware of the incident before her parents reported it.

“We have contacted the National Headquarters, the Ondo and Edo states NYSC and we have also alerted security agencies for necessary action. I am not aware if the kidnappers have reached out to demand ransom,” the state director stated.

He, however, noted that the Rofiat Lawal went to Benin City without informing the NYSC, which he noted as a violation of the NYSC instruction.

“NYSC has continued to emphasise to corps members the need to always notify authorities before they travel and to also avoid night travels,” Oche stated.