A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) stationed in Ibadan, Oyo State, Rofiat Lawal, was abducted by unidentified kidnappers along the Benin-Ore Expressway. The African media learned from a Facebook post by a user named Agbakwara on Wednesday that Lawal was on her way back from Benin, Edo State, to report to her primary assignment when she was taken. Agbakwara mentioned that the criminals are demanding ₦20 million for her release.
She wrote, “My dear friend, Lawal Rofiat Kofoworola, was kidnapped while traveling from Benin to Ibadan to resume her PPA in Ogbomosho. She managed to call yesterday and informed me that she was in an Ore-bound bus when she was abducted.
This is someone who has worked hard all her life, funding her university education by working at the Dufil company in Benin. Now, kidnappers are asking for ₦20 million, and we feel helpless. Her parents are not financially capable of paying this amount. I have reported the situation to the NYSC secretariat in Ibadan and provided them with her call-up number, but there has been no reply.
We are tired and in urgent need of assistance! Please, Nigerians, I urge you to support us. If there’s any way you can help by sharing this message, contacting the authorities, or providing any form of assistance, please do. She has been my close friend since my first year, and I have been distraught since this incident occurred.” The Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Odoba Oche, verified the incident in a phone call with our correspondent on Thursday.
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He stressed that security operatives had been alerted to the situation for necessary action while saying that he was not aware if any ransom had been requested by the abductors.
“Her parents reported the incident to us yesterday. 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.
“She went home to Benin without informing the NYSC authority against the instruction of NYSC. NYSC has continued to emphasise to corps members the need to always notify authorities before they travel and to also avoid night travels,” Oche said.
