Kidnappers set free Lagos PDP chairman after four days in captivity
Phillip Aivoji, the chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, has regained his freedom from the kidnappers, who held him in captivity for four days.
His release came almost 24 hours after the police said they rescued nine victims from their captors.
One Bilikisu Kazeem, who was among the victims, later died from a gunshot injury she sustained during shootouts between the police and the armed kidnappers.
The police had also mentioned in the release that they were unable to rescue Aivoji, leaving him in the hands of his captors.
Aivoji’s press release announcing his freedom did not mention police involvement in how he regained freedom.
The politician also didn’t say whether he made a ransom payment to his abductors to secure his release.
Aivoji and his colleagues were returning from Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State where they earlier attended the PDP’s Stakeholders’ Zonal Caucus meeting.
They were kidnapped along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
TheCornet reports the spate of kidnappings for ransom across different parts of the country, such that the criminal act is now a booming industry.
Citizens appear helpless and, in a recent, incident attempted crowdfunding a ransom request for an undergraduate, Nabeeha, who her captors eventually murdered.
The victim and her four siblings were kidnapped. Her siblings regained their freedom after ransom were paid to kidnappers, who at a time demanded to be paid ₦700million.
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The police subsequently arrested one Bello Mohammed in Kaduna, claiming he was part of those who kidnapped the sisters. The police said Bello attempted to bribe his way out after his arrest.
