The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State is in a state of shock and dismay as its chairman, Paul Omotoso, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
The incident happened on Saturday evening along the Agbado-Imesi-Ekiti road in Ayekire (Gbonyin) Local Government Area of the state.
Omotoso was on his way to his hometown of Imesi-Ekiti when the gunmen ambushed his vehicle with sporadic gunshots and took him to the bush.
The source said that the kidnappers have not contacted the family or the party for ransom.
The state APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, also confirmed the incident to newsmen and said that the party was working with security agencies to secure Omotoso’s release. He appealed to the kidnappers to spare Omotoso’s life and release him unconditionally.
” Yes, our chairman has been kidnapped this evening, and we are already working with security agencies towards securing his release.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Sunday Abutu when contacted said he was not aware of the incident and promised to get back to our correspondent, but yet to do so, as of press time.
Omotoso is a prominent figure in Ekiti politics and has been leading the APC since 2018. Omotoso’s abduction has raised concerns about the security situation in Ekiti State and the country at large.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business for criminal gangs in Nigeria, especially in the northern and central regions. In recent times, several high-profile individuals, including politicians, traditional rulers, businessmen, and students, have fallen victim to kidnappers who demand huge sums of money for their release.
The federal government has vowed to tackle the menace of insecurity and restore peace and order in the country.
We hope that Omotoso will be rescued soon and reunited with his family and party members. We also urge the security agencies to intensify their efforts to curb the spate of kidnappings and other violent crimes in the country. We call on all Nigerians to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities or movements to the relevant authorities.
