By Mumini AbdulKareem
A director in the Kwara State civil service, Alhaji Hakeem Olarewaju Idris who was kidnapped by gunmen early this month has been released, National Pilot gathered last night.
His release, it was gathered, followed the payment of an undisclosed amount of ransom some days after demanded by his abductors, the amount of which could not be independently verified last night.
Idris was abducted by his captors on October 7, 2020, while reportedly returning from his farm at Alapa in Asa Local Government when he was waylaid.
Effort to speak with the victim who is the Director, Expenditure Control at the State Ministry of Finance was not successful.
But the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the development to National Pilot last night adding that investigation is still ongoing
“Yes, we are aware of the case. He (Idris) has since been released and investigation is still ongoing about the case, we have not made any arrest yet. However, I am not aware of the payment of any ransom, Okasanmi, a Police Superintendent added.
Meanwhile, a leading youth association in the state, Ilorin Emirate Youth Descendants Progressive Union (IEYDPU) has decried the rising rate of the insecurity in the five local government areas that made up the Ilorin Emirate.
The association, in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Alhaji Babatunde Salaudeen and the National Publicity, Alhaji Uthman Jagunma and made available to newsmen, expressed worries over the deteriorating security situation in the city.
According to IYEDPU, the peace and harmony for which the city and indeed the entire state is known, is now rapidly deteriorating adding that the kidnappers and hoodlums had found their ways to the city and the state at large.
The association said that it was concerned with the way the hoodlums had been holding the people of the state into ransom in the course of struggling for survival.
Many of the residents, it said, could no longer walk freely and sleep with their two eyes closed, owing to fear of being robbed or kidnapped, adding that this was against the peaceful nature of the city.
The association called on Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the traditional council, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to wade in and address the security challenges by flushing out the perpetrators of the dastardly acts.
“We also call on the community and traditional security outfits, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), the police and other security agencies to double their efforts in flushing out hoodlums and kidnappers from the emirate and the state at large.
“There can be no peace or harmony in any community or state with deteriorating security situations.
“We, therefore, call on all stakeholders to, as a matter of urgency, wake up and restore the peace and security of the emirate and the entire state,” it said.
The IEYDA stressed that there can be no peace or harmony in any community or State in the presence of deteriorating security situations, and called on all stakeholders to as a matter of urgency wake up and restore the peace and security of the Emirate and State at large, while praying to Almighty Allah to guide aright the decision and efforts of all stakeholders.
