Bandits have demanded a ransom of ₦500 million for the release of five road construction workers abducted in Kwara State, leaving their families in anguish and desperation.
The workers were kidnapped on December 15, 2025, while carrying out their duties at a Kwara State Government road project along the Sabaja–Owa-Onire Road in Isin Local Government Area. Armed attackers reportedly stormed the construction site around 11:40 a.m. and took away Ademola Afolabi, Abdullahi Lade, Emmanuel Okuwadare Kayode, Fatai Akin, and their driver, Yusuf.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin on Monday, relatives of the victims said the kidnappers had contacted them and demanded the huge ransom. The families, led by Dare Boyinbogun, accused the state government of neglect and insufficient response since the abduction.
“Our lives have been hanging between hope and despair since that day,” Boyinbogun said. “They are asking for ₦500 million. How can ordinary families raise such an amount?”
He described the abducted men as innocent workers who were simply contributing to the development of Kwara State and the country. According to him, they went to work believing they would return safely to their families, only for their loved ones to be plunged into fear, pain and uncertainty.
While acknowledging the efforts of the police and other security agencies, Boyinbogun stressed that time was critical.
“Every hour that passes worsens the suffering of the wives, children and elderly parents who depend entirely on these men. Many of the families have no other source of income, and beyond fear for their lives, hunger and emotional trauma have set in,” he said.
The families appealed to the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify rescue operations and treat the abduction as an emergency. They also called for direct engagement with affected families, welfare support, counselling services, and stronger security along construction sites and rural roads to prevent further attacks.
Appealing directly to the kidnappers, Boyinbogun pleaded for mercy. “These men are fathers, sons and brothers. Please release them alive and unharmed,” he said.
One of the wives, Idayat Lade, broke down in tears while appealing for her husband’s freedom. She revealed that she lost a pregnancy due to the emotional stress caused by the abduction. “Please give us back our husbands. We want them alive,” she cried.
Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has directed the police to arrest those responsible for attacking women protesters near the under-construction Government House in Ilorin. The directive followed the circulation of a viral video showing suspected hoodlums assaulting women who were protesting near the Government House gate during the Christmas holiday.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor condemned the attack, describing it as unacceptable and contrary to democratic principles. He emphasized that peaceful protest is a fundamental right and ordered the police to identify and prosecute those involved.
The statement added that the state government remains committed to tackling insecurity, noting ongoing efforts including the deployment of armed forest guards and increased security presence across vulnerable communities in Kwara State.
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