Despite the Ogun State Police Command’s efforts to collaborate with local law security outfits and communities to curb the rising trend of abductions, the Gateway State is witnessing an alarming surge in kidnapping and missing person cases. The latest incident involves the alleged abduction of Mrs. Helen Odunubi, the proprietress of Excel Group of Schools, a nursery and primary institution.
The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday at about 1 pm inside the school premises in Ogunsua Crescent, Oserw Baba Odun Matogbun area of Agbado, Ogun State. According to a source, four individuals, two women and two men, drove an unregistered ash-colored Toyota Sienna into the school premises and headed straight to the school proprietress’ office. Mrs. Odunubi’s son, Ayodeji Odunubi, informed the police that these individuals were unfamiliar in the area prior to the incident.
Ayodeji recounted to the police that the suspects forcibly took his mother inside the Toyota Sienna before swiftly driving away. As of the latest update on Sunday, the 56-year-old proprietress remains missing, and there has been no communication from the abductors regarding any ransom.
The Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, assured the public that the police, along with local security outfits, are actively working to locate and rescue Mrs. Odunubi. She emphasized the collaboration between the police, community leaders, and other security outfits in the ongoing efforts.
Similarly, another case involving a missing Thai expatriate, Chotika Sabrit, has emerged. The 29-year-old employee at Dragon Inn Restaurant and Spa in Makun Sagamu left the company’s premises on Tuesday and has not been seen since. Although the police have not officially labeled it as a kidnapping, Sabrit’s whereabouts remain unknown, and no ransom demands have been made.
Odutola confirmed the ongoing efforts to locate Sabrit, highlighting the challenges due to her language barrier, as she can only speak Thai. The police are intensifying their efforts to find the missing lady.
The report also touched on a previous case involving the alleged abduction of a 70-year-old piggery farmer and elder, Pa Adeife Ifelaja, on December 31, 2023. Held captive for nine days, the kidnappers demanded a N50 million ransom. The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, assured that efforts were underway to secure Pa Adeife’s release.
Additionally, a previous incident on December 4, 2023, reported an attack on a poultry farm in Atoyo town, Itele area of Ogun State, where six suspected hoodlums kidnapped three workers. Two individuals linked to the crime were reportedly arrested by the state police command.
