Suspected terrorists have abducted a housewife and her five-month-old baby in Wodata Zambufu community, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday in the community, located about 10 kilometres from the Kwara State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Yikpata.
An audio recording obtained by SaharaReporters revealed ongoing negotiations between the kidnappers and members of the victim’s family. In the recording, one of the abductors was heard struggling to communicate in the Yoruba language while making ransom demands.
SaharaReporters gathered that the victim, said to be a trader, was abducted while travelling within Kwara State. Since her abduction, her family has remained in contact with the kidnappers, who are demanding a ransom of N20 million for her release.
The abduction comes amid a surge in kidnapping incidents across Kwara State. In recent months, both young and elderly residents have been targeted in different parts of the state, forcing many families to sell assets or incur debts to secure the release of their relatives.
In a related development, SaharaReporters had earlier reported that terrorists demanded N20 million ransom from the family of a woman abducted in Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area, threatening to kill her if the demand was not met within a short period.
The worsening security situation has also seen the abduction of two traditional rulers in the state. While one of the monarchs reportedly regained freedom after paying a ransom, the second monarch remains in captivity along with his son.
Similarly, some staff members of the Kwara State Ministry of Works were abducted in December last year at Owa Onire in Isin Local Government Area of the state.
Residents have continued to express concern over the rising wave of kidnappings and have called on security agencies to intensify efforts to curb the menace.
