The Kwara State Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Bayo Fabiyi, and two other men have reportedly been abducted while attempting to deliver ransom for the release of a kidnap victim in Oko-Irese, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has heightened concerns in the community amid claims that the victim whose freedom was being negotiated may have been killed before the ransom team arrived at the agreed location.
Sources familiar with the matter told our correspondent that Fabiyi, accompanied by a driver and another associate, embarked on the mission after suspected kidnappers allegedly demanded N30 million, five motorcycles and three bags of rice for the victim’s release.
The trio reportedly travelled to a forested area along the Kwara-Kogi border where the exchange was expected to take place.
According to a source, the men were acting on instructions from the kidnappers and carried the requested items in the hope of securing the victim’s freedom.
However, upon arriving at the location, the ransom bearers were allegedly ambushed and taken captive by the kidnappers.
“They went there believing they would secure the victim’s release, but instead, they were seized. Since then, there has been no contact with them,” the source said.
Further information that emerged after the incident suggested that the victim at the centre of the negotiations had already been killed before the ransom delivery team set out on the journey.
“What we later heard was that the victim had been killed before the ransom was delivered. Unfortunately, those who went to negotiate were unaware of that development,” the source added.
Sources also claimed that Fabiyi had sought spiritual guidance before embarking on the mission and was advised against proceeding.
It was further gathered that the incident was not immediately reported to security agencies, raising questions about when official intervention began.
When contacted, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said the command had not received any formal report regarding the alleged abduction.
“I am not aware of the incident because it has not been reported to the police. Once a report is made, we will investigate and take appropriate action,” the commissioner said.
Fabiyi’s abduction comes just weeks after he publicly expressed concern over the worsening security situation in Kwara South.
Speaking in May, the OPC leader called for stronger collaboration between conventional security agencies and local security groups, arguing that community-based organisations possess valuable intelligence that could help tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“We understand the forests, the routes and the patterns. If properly engaged, we can provide intelligence, local surveillance and rapid response within communities,” he said at the time.
He also blamed rising insecurity on weak community intelligence networks, the declining influence of traditional institutions and the failure to fully integrate local security groups into efforts to protect rural communities.
