The family of four persons abducted by suspected bandits in Abangbe Village, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, has accused the council chairman of advising them to negotiate with their abductors and raise the ₦50 million ransom demanded for the victims’ release, allegedly telling them that the government could not defeat bandits at the moment.
The victims, identified as Abike, Semiu, Sofiat and Ramadan, were reportedly kidnapped on October 25, 2026, in Abangbe Village, near Oke-Oyi, by suspected terrorists.
Following the abduction, the family said it sent a representative to the Ilorin East Local Government Secretariat in Oke-Oyi to seek government intervention and financial assistance to secure the victims’ release.
However, the family alleged that instead of receiving the assistance it had expected, it was advised to find a way to meet the kidnappers’ ransom demand.
According to a family member, the council chairman, Mallam Garba Olayinka Lukman Agbelere, popularly known as Lukman Olayinka Garba, suggested that the family negotiate with the abductors and raise the money themselves, reportedly arguing that the government was currently unable to defeat the bandits.
“We went to the Ilorin East Local Government Secretariat at Oke-Oyi to seek help. We sent someone to represent the family because we needed government intervention and financial assistance to rescue our people,” a family member told SaharaReporters.
“But the advice we got was that we should find a way to pay the ₦50 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers. We were told that the government cannot defeat these bandits now, so we should do whatever we can to secure the release of our family members,” the relative added.
The family described the alleged response as disappointing, insisting that it approached the local government because it lacked the financial capacity to raise such a huge amount.
“We did not go there because we wanted the government to give us money for anything personal. Four of our family members are in the hands of kidnappers. We went there because we believed the government would help us rescue them,” another family member said.
“Where do they expect poor families to get ₦50 million? We are already traumatised by what has happened, and now we are being told to find the money ourselves. We are appealing to the government to help us,” the relative added.
The kidnappers have reportedly demanded ₦50 million for the release of the four victims, placing enormous financial pressure on their relatives, who have appealed for urgent intervention to prevent further suffering.
In an appeal circulated following the abduction, the family expressed concern over the continued detention of their loved ones and called on the Kwara State Government, security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to assist in securing their release.
They specifically appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara State Police Command and other relevant security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims.
The family also called on members of the public to support efforts to secure the safe return of Abike, Semiu, Sofiat and Ramadan, stressing that their immediate priority was to reunite with their abducted relatives.
The incident has heightened fears among residents of communities around Oke-Oyi and other parts of Ilorin East, amid growing concerns over the activities of armed groups and the security situation in the area.
However, when contacted by SaharaReporters, the Ilorin East Local Government Chairman, Agbelere, denied that the family discussed the ransom demand with him or that he advised them to pay the money.
The chairman said he was not around when the attack occurred but immediately sent a representative to the community to commiserate with the victims’ families.
He explained that he subsequently contacted the ward chairman of his political party and a councillor, directing them to visit the affected community while assuring residents that he would personally visit as soon as he returned.
Agbelere said he later returned and visited the community alongside Commissioner Ali Jimoh to console residents and discuss the security situation.
According to him, his advice to the residents was that they should remain vigilant and take responsibility for protecting their communities rather than depending entirely on the government.
“I was even wondering. The moment this matter (terrorist attack) happened, I was not even around. I had to send someone to go there to condole with them first. Then secondly, I called the ward chairman of our party and the councillor to ask them to go there, telling them that I would visit them any moment from then.
“The moment I came back, I called Honourable Ali, the commissioner who came from their place. I was aware of the incident. We went there together to console with them.
“When I reached them, I was only advising them that everybody needs to be vigilant. I told them that, in my own community where I come from, we contribute money to buy guns to protect our people from these bandit attacks.
“I told them that the government cannot do everything. You cannot leave everything in the hands of the government because we cannot be everywhere at a time,” he said.
The chairman further maintained that the family did not mention the ransom demand during his visit, insisting that their request was for improved security in the community.
“They did not come to the secretariat; I went to their community myself with my team. They did not even mention anything regarding ransom. They were just pleading with us to provide them with security, and we assured them we would do that, but we cannot do everything,” he said.
In a revelation that further raised concerns about the security situation in the area, Agbelere disclosed that several communities had resorted to purchasing firearms to defend themselves against attacks by suspected bandits.
He specifically named his own community, Apa Ado, Egbeyegi and Looru as communities where residents had reportedly contributed money to acquire guns for self-protection.
“Many communities have started helping themselves. In my community, we bought six guns. Apa Ado community did the same thing. Egbeyegi did the same thing. Looru did the same thing. This is what the communities are now trying to do: to help themselves. Not everything should be left for the government to do. This is what I just advised them to do,” he added.
Despite denying that he advised the family to pay the ransom, the council chairman acknowledged that he intended to send the ward chairman to the affected family to provide financial assistance towards securing the victims’ release.
He explained that the local government could not shoulder the entire ransom demand but could contribute whatever amount was available to support the family.
“I told them that the ward chairman who came from that ward, I was going to send him to them for financial help. We cannot pay all the ransom; we can only contribute. This is what I have always done for people who have similar issues: to contribute towards helping them pay the ransom from the local government,” he said.
In another disclosure, Agbelere admitted that the local government sometimes contributes money towards ransom payments for kidnapped residents but keeps such interventions away from public attention.
“You know it is not good for us to let people know we are paying these ransoms as government. But we do it silently just to help them. But we cannot mention the amount we paid to them,” he said.
The chairman maintained that he was surprised by the family’s allegations, insisting that the ransom demand was never discussed with him during his visit to the community.
His remarks have, however, raised questions about the extent of government assistance available to families of kidnapped residents, particularly in communities struggling to cope with repeated attacks by armed groups.
The disclosure that local authorities sometimes contribute towards ransom payments without publicly acknowledging such interventions has also drawn attention to the growing financial burden placed on families and the informal arrangements reportedly being used to secure the release of abducted residents.
Meanwhile, the four victims remain the subject of an urgent appeal by their family, which is calling on the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their safe release.