An official of the Asiwaju Media Team, a support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in Ondo State, Emorioloye Owoloemi, has been kidnapped.
The Chairperson of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripenaye, confirmed the incident to journalists in Akure on Sunday. He said Owoloemi was abducted on Thursday at about 9:00 a.m. from his office around the Okonga/Olodo Junction in Igbokoda.
According to Oripenaye, the kidnappers arrived in two Toyota Hilux Sports Utility Vehicles and forcefully took the APC media official away. Since then, his whereabouts have remained unknown.
Condemning the incident, the council boss described it as “pure criminality” and unacceptable, noting that it occurred in broad daylight in a busy commercial area. He said all security agencies in the state had been alerted and urged to ensure the victim’s safe rescue.
“This act is a clear violation of public safety and an assault on the peace-loving people of Ilaje,” Oripenaye said, adding that eyewitnesses confirmed Owoloemi was taken at gunpoint. He expressed solidarity with the victim’s family, friends, and associates during what he described as a distressing period.
He also appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could escalate tension or hinder investigations. Oripenaye assured that the safety of residents remains a top priority, disclosing that the local government had contacted the police, Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, and other security networks to coordinate a swift response.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident. The police spokesperson, CSP Jimoh Abayomi, said investigations had commenced, though details were still sketchy.
He urged residents to remain calm, assuring that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure the security of lives and property across the state.
COURTESY: gistcore
