Ilorin, Kwara State Kidnappers have demanded a ransom of ₦500 million for the release of seven construction workers abducted from a site in Kwara State, authorities and family sources have confirmed.
The workers were reportedly taken hostage by a gang of armed men while returning from a work site on the outskirts of the state late last week. The attackers are said to have forced the victims into waiting vehicles and fled the scene before security personnel could respond.
According to relatives of the victims, the kidnappers contacted family members and employers shortly after the abduction, demanding a ransom of ₦500 million for the safe release of all seven workers. The high ransom figure has raised alarm among the families and local community, who describe the demand as “unrealistic and distressing.”
Security agencies have been notified about the abduction, and operatives from the police and other tactical units are reported to be conducting search and rescue operations in the general area. Community leaders have appealed for calm and urged security forces to act swiftly to secure the release of the victims.
The incident comes amid rising concerns over kidnap-for-ransom cases targeting workers, travellers, and residents in parts of the country. Family members and local officials have called on the government to intensify efforts to curb the surge in violent crimes and protect citizens going about their daily activities.
Efforts to reach the employers of the abducted workers for comment have not been successful, and it remains unclear how negotiators might respond to the kidnappers’ ransom demand as the situation continues to unfold.
Shopeju Olateju
NaijaTravels News