Unknown Gunmen Kidnap Ex Senator, Demands N80 Million Ransom
A Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) and governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Arise, has been reportedly kidnapped by unidentified gunmen.
Arise, a former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District was kidnapped alongside his driver on Sunday evening along Okene-Abuja highway.
He was said to have been traveling in his car when the gunmen struck and ferried him into the bush.
His abductors, it was gathered, had contacted the family of the politician and demanded N80 million ransom.
The former member of the national assembly was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining the APC.
A family source, confided in journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, that Arise was abducted while returning to Abuja from Oye Ekiti, his country-home.
He was said to have attended a ceremony at Ikere Ekiti on Saturday, where chieftaincy title was conferred on retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin.
He later returned to Ado Ekiti and visited the golf course along Federal Polytechnic road before headed to his country home to see his political associates.
One of his closest allies, who does not want his name in the print said , “Yes, he visited Ekiti State on Saturday before returning to Abuja.
“When we wanted to establish contact with him, we could not. The last time I called him was around 6pm, so the kidnap must have taken place around 7 pm.
“They have contacted us and demanded a sum of N80m ransom. We are worried because we don’t know his situation.
“The family is working hard to secure his release and we have contacted all the relevant agencies including the police to come to our aid”, he said.
