Suspected terrorists who abducted seven construction workers in Oba community, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded a ransom of ₦500 million for their release, deepening fears over rising insecurity in the state.
A family source confirmed on Wednesday evening that the kidnappers had established contact and insisted that the full amount must be paid before the victims would regain their freedom. The workers were reportedly seized during an attack on a construction site in the community, sparking panic among residents and relatives.
“The kidnappers have reached out and demanded ₦500 million for the release of the seven construction workers,” the source said, appealing to the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their safe return.
The victims were engaged in an ongoing construction project at the time of the attack, with two of them identified as staff of the Kwara State Ministry of Works. Witnesses said the armed assailants stormed the site without warning, overpowered the workers and forced them into the surrounding bush without encountering immediate resistance.
The abduction has heightened concerns over security in Kwara, coming amid recent incidents involving suspected bandits in the state. Only days earlier, Nigerian soldiers arrested a group of suspects allegedly found patrolling with AK-47 rifles in a local security patrol vehicle in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
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In a viral video shared online, the arrested men were seen lying face down with their hands tied as soldiers interrogated them about their activities and the source of the weapons in their possession. One of the suspects, speaking in Hausa and Pidgin English, claimed that the patrol vehicle and rifles were provided by the Kwara State Government, alleging that they had been conducting patrols in the area for some time.
“We have been here for quite a while. We are using the vehicle for patrol. Wallahi, na the truth I dey tell you,” the suspect said in the video. He further alleged that the weapons were collected by their superior, whom he referred to as “our oga,” and insisted that multiple individuals were involved.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement linking the two incidents, but the developments have intensified public concern over the safety of workers and residents across Kwara State.
