COUNCIL BOSS KIDNAPPERS DEMAND $1M

Council Boss Kidnappers of the Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, have allegedly demanded $1m (about N160m) ransom for his release. But his driver, who escaped
from the four kidnappers
sustained injury.Bamigbetan,
a former Chief Press Secretary
of ex-Governor Bola Tinubu,
was kidnapped at about 11.30pm on Monday while
returning from office with
his driver. A ranking council official,
who spoke on condition of
anonymity on Tuesday, said
the kidnappers called
Bamigbetan’s wife and
demanded $1m ransom. He said, “The kidnappers
called the chairman’s wife
around 2.30am on Tuesday.
She is the only one they
(kidnappers) have
established communication with. They however warned
her against letting the police
into the matter. “After that call, the family
tried the number they used
in calling but it indicated it
was switched off. It is
believed that the kidnappers
would call again since they had established contact with
the chairman’s wife.” Efforts to talk to
Bamigbetan’s wife were not
successful as family members
said she was so downcast to
speak with journalists. It was learnt that council
chairmen in the state met
today (Tuesday) and resolved
that they should rally round
Bamigbetan and raise the
sum. The chairmen were said to
have agreed that every
council chairman should
contribute N1m each to
facilitate the payment of the
ransom. Efforts to speak with the
driver also proved abortive as
he was said to have gone for
treatment at a nearby
hospital. On how the kidnapping was
executed, another council
source, who did not want his
name mentioned, said
Bamigbetan and his driver
noticed the kidnappers near them. He said, “When they sighted
the kidnappers, Bamigbetan
driver reversed. The
kidnappers gave them a
chase. In the process, his
driver hit an electric pole and the car stopped. “It was in the process that
they started shooting at his
car. Since the road in the area
is in deplorable condition, the
driver could not meander his
way. That was how the chairman was caught. But
the driver, who sustained
injuries, managed to escape.” When journalists visited
Bamigbetan’s residence, a
prayer session was in
progress. Outside the compound,
scores of sympathisers were
in pensive mood discussing
the incident. Prayers were also held at the
secretariat by both Christians
and Muslims for the safe
return of the LG boss. At the offices in the council,
work literally stopped as
workers were seen
discussing. A Jeep with plate number
LAGOS KOK in which
Bamigbetan was kidnapped
was parked on his
compound, riddled with
bullets. Fasehun orders manhunt President and Founder,
Oodua People’s Congress, Dr.
Frederick Fasehun, has
ordered members of the
group in Lagos and other
South-West states to collaborate with security
operatives to find
Bamigbetan. Fasehun, who gave the
directive in a statement on
Tuesday, demanded the
immediate release of the
council chairman. He said, “We just heard about
this unfortunate incident,
which has filtered through
Lagos State and is all over the
Internet. Kehinde
Bamigbetan is our son, a Yoruba man. “Whoever touches any
Yoruba man touches the
apple of OPC’s eye and will
pay dearly.” He asked OPC leaders,
including the National
Secretary, Mr. Dare Adesope,
to call for meetings with the
organisation’s leadership in
Ejigbo , in order to guarantee Bamigbetan’s safe return to
his family. “We warn whoever is behind
this evil act that Bamigbetan
must be released unharmed.
Not one strand of his hair
must be hurt,” he said.