Ayo Ademola
An incident of abduction reported in Ota Toll gate area of Ogun State, has been confirmed by the police following inquiries at the Divisional Police Headquarters in the area.
During a visit to the station, by our correspondent the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Ignatus Oloyede, disclosed that the case involved the suspected abduction of a woman identified as Oluwatoyin(full name withheld), who was reportedly taken by unidentified gunmen.
According to information made available at the station, the incident occurred on September 18, 2023, along Ifesowapo Street, shortly after the victim was seen returning home from work. Eyewitness accounts obtained by the police indicated that armed men intercepted her and forcefully took her away in a waiting vehicle.
“It happened so fast… like something out of a horror film,” our Reporter said in accordance to the information gathered, where people struggled to hold back tears.
“They just dragged her in,” a roadside vendor recalled, her voice trembling. “She was crying and struggling… we were all shouting, but no one could stop them. They had weapons. We were helpless.”
Within seconds, the vehicle sped off, leaving behind stunned onlookers and a silence heavy with dread.
“They called us… and threatened to kill her, one of the family members said, if we don’t pay ₦30 million,” they said they will kill her.”
According to an insider source, she was subjected to severe inhuman treatment—starved, humiliated, and treated “worse than an animal” by her captors.
The family, thrown into sudden despair, has been scrambling desperately to raise the enormous ransom, reaching out to friends, relatives, and well-wishers.
“We are running from pillar to post,” a family member said. “No one deserves this kind of suffering. She is a gentle woman… she has never hurt anyone.”
Residents of the area say the incident has left a deep scar on the community, with many now living in fear.
“We don’t feel safe anymore,” said a shop owner near the scene. “If someone can be taken like that in broad daylight, then who is safe?”
CSP Oloyede, while addressing inquiries, confirmed that the case was one of several kidnapping incidents recorded in recent time across parts of Ogun State and adjoining areas. He noted that similar cases reported around the same time included abductions in Ifo and Sango-Ota axis, where a Business man, Mr. Akosile Dayo alongside his wife Rebecca was alleged to have been kidnapped which were under active investigation as of that period.
“The command received reports of the incident and commenced preliminary investigation immediately,” the DPO stated, adding that efforts were being made at the time to track the perpetrators and establish connections, if any, with other kidnapping syndicates operating in the region.
Police sources further indicated that ransom demands were a recurring pattern in such cases,although specific operational details were not disclosed for security reasons.
Residents in the area had reportedly expressed concern over rising insecurity which prompted increased patrol and surveillance measures by law enforcement agencies.
The Ogun State Police Command, as of the time of this report assured the public of its commitment to tackling kidnapping and related crimes, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements promptly.
The incident adds to the growing wave of abductions across the country, raising urgent concerns about public safety and the need for swift intervention by the Security forces
