A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Rofiat Lawal, who was kidnapped along the Benin-Ore Expressway, has been released after her family paid a N1.1 million ransom.
Lawal was abducted while traveling from Benin, Edo State, to Ibadan, Oyo State, to resume at her primary assignment. Initially, the kidnappers demanded N20 million, but after tense negotiations, they settled for N1.1 million.
Family Struggled to Raise Ransom
A friend of the victim, Agbakwara, who was deeply involved in securing Lawal’s release, revealed the harrowing ordeal.
“In the early hours of Friday, the kidnappers pressured us, warning that if we failed to meet their demands, we should not expect her return,” he said.
Desperate for help, he reached out to friends, colleagues, the Muslim community, and even social media followers to raise the money. Eventually, at 4:20 pm on Friday, they sent N1.1 million to an account provided by the kidnappers.
The account holder, identified as Isaac Ayo, claimed his sister was also kidnapped and promised to deliver the ransom.
Lawal Reunited with Family
After hours of tense waiting, Lawal and other victims were released at around 10 pm on Friday. She was first taken to a hospital for medical checks before heading home on Saturday morning.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed, shared the news, and tagged the necessary authorities. Your support made this possible,” Agbakwara wrote on Facebook.
Nigeria’s Kidnapping Crisis Worsens
Kidnappings in Nigeria have become a daily nightmare. The roads are unsafe, and even corps members are not spared. The government has failed to protect its citizens, leaving people at the mercy of ransom-seeking criminals.
The release of this Youth Corper begs some questions, how much longer will Nigerians live in fear? Declaring a state of emergency on insecurity is long overdue. If corps members, students, and ordinary travelers are not safe, who is?
