The rising cases of kidnapping continued in Lagos State on Monday night, as a serving local government chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan, was abducted by unknown gunmen in Ejigbo area of the state.The kidnappers had reportedly been in contact with the family and relatives of the kidnapped council chairman and the state government and were reportedly demanding $1 million.
The Ina Iwa Ejigbo home of the kidnapped politician has since become a Mecca of sort to political associates and friends of Bamigbetan.
Bamigbetan was, until the incident, the chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development area and he was going home when the gunmen attacked his vehicle and took him away.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the former chief press secretary to a former governor in the state was just about some metres away from his house when the incident happened.
It was gathered that the gunmen finally caught up with the LCDA boss and his driver, after the vehicle fell into a ditch while the driver attempted to escape.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye, warned that the state government would not condone any act that would put the state into chaos.
“I want to beg you guys to allow the wife of the victim to rest. The police are currently working on the case, but I will tell you for sure that the Lagos State government will not tolerate or condone any act that will put the state into chaos,” the commissioner said.
A former Commissioner for Information, Dele Alake, during a visit to the kidnapped LG boss’ house, said, “I am shocked beyond words.”
The chairman of Shomolo Local Government, Gbolahan Bagostowe, who came to Bamgbetan’s residence in company with his Mushin counterpart, Olatunde Adepitan, both said that words could not describe how they felt.
The acting image maker in charge of the state police command, Damasus Ozoani, confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune and added that the police in the state had begun investigation into the incident.
He also stated that the police, as of Tuesday evening, had not made any contact with the kidnappers, but assured that the police would rescue Bamigbetan.
Ozoani also denied being aware that the kidnappers had got in contact with some people and that they were demanding $1million.
Meanwhile, the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), on Tuesday, ordered the entire members in Lagos State to collaborate with security agents in a manhunt for the kidnappers of Bamigbetan.
The founder of the organisation, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, who directed all the members to immediately swing into action, advised the suspected kidnappers to the immediate release the council Chairman.
Addressing OPC members at his Century Hotel, Okota, Lagos, Fasehun told the leaders, including the national secretary, Comrade Dare Adesope, to make phone calls and call meetings with the organisation’s leadership in Ejigbo for information, in order to guarantee Bamigbetan’s safety and sound return to his family.
