The suspected kidnappers of the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Authority,LCDA,Kehinde Oladapo Bamigbetan, Tuesday, made contact with his wife, Fatima, demanding $1 million (N155 million) ransom.
DailyPost gathered that unknown gunmen called Fatima with Hon. Bamigbetan’s phone.
According to a source close to the family, while close associates of the chairman were consoling Fatima in the wee hours of the morning, “her phone rang and it was the chairman’s number calling her. Immediately she picked it up, she was told by a male voice that her husband was safe and would only be released to her if she cooperated with them by not informing the police.
“A few minutes later, they called back with the same number that she should not attempt to play smart because their men were everywhere and that the ransom was $1 million.”
The council boss was kidnapped by four unknown gunmen on Monday night at Ona Iwa Mimo Street Ejigbo when he was returning home from an official engagement at about 11pm.
Eyewitnesses say Mr Bamigbetan was accosted by his assailants when he made to get into his home.
Sources said he was with his driver, Biodun Olayiwola in his black Ford, Everest Jeep with special registration number KOK.
According to the driver, immediately the gunmen intercepted the chairman’s vehicle, he made a frantic effort to escape by putting the vehicle in reverse. The effort was abortive as the vehicle reportedly hit a pole, that got it trapped.
Olayiwola managed to escape, but his boss could not, as the gunmen fired into the air preventing foiling his escape.
The police Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Lagos state Command, Mr. Damasus Ozoani and an Assistant Superintendent of Police,ASP, said the Command was making efforts towards ensuing that he is released as soon as possible.
Ozoani said, “His safety is important to us. We are managing the situation to ensure he is released. At this point, all hands are on deck. All men are on ground doing what is expected of us.”
Also, the Imagemaker, Lagos chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria,ACN, Joe Igbokwe, has ordered the abductors to release Bamigbetan within hours or face dire consequences. Igbokwe issued the order in a message broadcast on his Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon.
“The kidnappers have just a few hours left to release the council chairman or face the unimaginable strength of Lagos security outfit,” Igbokwe said.
He said “these criminals should run away from Lagos because nobody steals or kidnaps in Lagos without being caught and the consequences are better imagined.”
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