Gunmen kidnap ASUU chair’s wife, demand N50m ransom

Gunmen on Friday kidnapped wife of the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Osun State University chapter, Mrs. Funmilayo Abiona.

Abiona was abducted in Osogbo around 7:30pm.

Our correspondent gathered on Saturday that Mrs. Abiona closed from her shop around Oke Bale area of Osogbo and was heading home to meet her husband, Dr. Oluseye Abiona, when the hoodlums, who had been on her trail, caught up with her and forcefully took her away after a hot argument.

The hoodlums, according to some residents of the area, were dressed in red shirts.

The abducted woman, who was said to be driving Lexus car, was with her two children when the incident happened.

Mrs. Abiona was said to have struggled with her captors, who eventually overpowered her and forced her into a red car, which they used for the operation.

The hoodlums, out of anger, were said to have smashed the rear screen of the Lexus car, leaving the children and driving away with their target.

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The abductors were said to have called her husband to demand a N50m ransom, saying his wife was okay where she was being kept.

Efforts to speak with the ASUU chairman were unsuccessful.

However, a source close to him said the case had been reported to the police.

The source said Mrs. Abiona was allowed by her abductors to speak with her husband when they called to demand ransom of a N50m.

The source who pleaded anonymity, said the case was reported at the state Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo on Saturday.

The Vice Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Prof. Bashir Okesina, confirmed the kidnap when our correspondent called him.

Calls put across to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, to confirm the abduction were not successful. She had yet to respond to the text message sent to her as of the time this report was filed.

Some armed hoodlums had in November abducted a local government boss in Osogbo.

The LG boss was said to have been released after a N5 million ransom was paid.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has warned that kidnappers operating in the state had deviced a new way of dispossessing their victims of huge sums of money.

The command said kidnappers now abduct unsuspecting victims, get their Automated Teller Machine cards’ pin numbers and use them to withdraw all the funds in their (victims’) accounts.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, on Friday explained that the victims were always kept hostage until money in their accounts were exhausted with the ATM cards.

Expressing the need for members of the public to be vigilant, especially during the Yuletide period, Mohammad, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, urged Nigerians to only go out with their ATM cards when necessary.

The police spokesman identified some of the victims of the new method of kidnapping and robbery as passengers in public transport.

“The unsuspecting victim is usually abducted, forced to reveal his ATM PIN and kept hostage, while same ATM card is used by the criminals to withdraw money from his account.

“Such victim regains freedom only after his bank account has been exhausted.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, on Friday urged officers in the state command to shun corruption while discharging their duties.

Aderanti, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, said bribery and corruption dehumanises officers involved in the act.

He said, “I urge all police officers at all levels to shun bribery and corruption. Do not collect bribe that will bring shame to your family.

“Run away from all forms of misconduct that will lead you and the command to disrepute.

“Bribery and corruption create an impression that you have lost your sense of decency completely.”

Aderanti stated that bail was free, describing the request and collection of such as extortion. He stressed that any officer caught in the act of receiving money for bail would be dealt with.

“It is very shameful and it won’t get us anywhere. I don’t see any good you can do with such money. I don’t want anybody to be arrested over this shameful act, because I won’t let such person escape it,’’ he said