A man named Ajayi Bello was abducted on the morning of Monday, June 16, while attending to his poultry farm, according to a relative who spoke with SaharaReporters.
The relative explained that the attackers arrived around 9:30 a.m., opened fire, and forcefully took Bello away.
“While he was working on the farm, armed men invaded the area, started shooting, and kidnapped him. Others were also injured during the incident,” the source stated.
The kidnappers have since reached out to the family, demanding a ransom of ₦250 million for his release. They reportedly insisted that Bello would not be freed until the full amount is paid.
“So far, they haven’t given us any deadline,” the family member added.
It was also revealed that Bello’s brother-in-law was kidnapped alongside him during the attack.
One of the gunshot victims, identified as Musa Ibrahim, shared his experience. “As soon as I heard the gunshots, I tried to run, but they shot me in the leg,” he recounted. He added that he has been visiting the hospital regularly for treatment but was fortunate that his bones weren’t seriously damaged.
Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, confirmed the abduction. However, he noted that the police were unaware of any ransom demand at the time.
“We are aware of the incident and have launched efforts to rescue the victim. The police are working closely with local vigilante groups to ensure his safe return,” Aya said.
This incident adds to a growing list of abductions in Kogi State. In a separate case reported earlier by Drivetvnews, a retired Army Major, Joe Ajayi, was killed by kidnappers despite the payment of a ₦10 million ransom. Ajayi, aged 76, was a former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Kabba-Bunu area. He was abducted from his residence in Odo-Ape, located in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area.
