By Idu Jude
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, on Sunday afternoon, were greeted with the sudden release of Seven members of Gabriel Oladapo, who were abducted by kidnappers three weeks ago.
The seven relatives of Gabriel Oladapo, who reside in the Pegi resettlement community in the Kuje area council of Abuja, were freed on Sunday 26 of September. An incident that has confirmed the security lapses even in the capital city of Nigeria.
“They were rescued alongside other victims (farmers) between the ages of 13-17,” said Aderibigbe Isaac-Taiwo, the chairman of the Pegi community in Kuje who confirmed this to newsmen.
“Five females and two males were released in the early hours of Sunday,” he added.
The incident further, exposed how Pegi had turned a kidnappers’ haven despite housing a division of the Nigerian police and a naval barracks. Pegi in recent days has taken over from Kuje Area council previously with the highest recorded of kidnapping in the FCT.
Community leaders said over 30 persons had been kidnapped in the area in the last two years and over N50 million had been paid as ransom. This has forced many to relocate from the community for fear of being kidnapped.
“As we speak, the man and his family have relocated from the community,” Mr. Taiwo said.
He said they persuaded him not to leave but that he insisted, saying the trauma will affect his children if they remain in the community.
One person shot, two others abducted by gunmen in Abuja
Details of the release are still sketchy but a resident said their release was facilitated by security officials and members of a local vigilante group.
When Mr.Magit Solomon, a police superintendent heading the area council’s police operations, for comment, he said he will get back to our reporter, but has yet to do so as of press time.
The FCT command however is also yet to issue a statement on the matter.
