Abducted Lagos PDP chairman, eight others rescued

The Ogun State Police Command successfully rescued nine out of the ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Lagos who were abducted by gunmen last Thursday on their return from Ibadan. The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Abiodun Alamutu, confirmed this development during a news briefing in Abeokuta on Monday.

Among those freed was Mr. Phillip Aivoji, the Chairman of PDP in Lagos. Regrettably, during the exchange of gunfire between the police and the criminals, one of the abductees, Bilikisu Kazeem, lost her life.

The police commissioner disclosed that the rescue operation took place early on January 29, concluding four days of captivity for the abducted individuals. It’s worth noting that Aivoji and nine others were kidnapped on their way back from Ibadan near the Ogere axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway after attending a PDP meeting in Ibadan.

Alamutu clarified that, to his knowledge, no ransom was paid to the hoodlums for the release of the PDP chieftains. In a statement issued by the Police Command on Saturday, they had assured that efforts were underway to free the kidnapped PDP officials without harm.

While expressing sympathy for the family of Bilikisu Kazeem, the 37-year-old who lost her life due to gunshot wounds sustained during the incident, Commissioner Alamutu highlighted the tragic outcome of the encounter.