A former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Ayo Arise, was on Sunday kidnapped by gunmen along the Okene-Lokoja road in Kogi State.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was abducted along with his personal assistant and driver while returning to Abuja.
A reliable family source told NAN in Ado-Ekiti on Monday that the kidnappers led the three into the nearby bush at gunpoint.
The gunmen have reportedly contacted the family and demanded N80 million ransom.
One of the closest allies of Arise, who wanted to remain anonymous, told NAN, “They (kidnappers) have contacted us and demanded a sum of N80million 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.”
Arise was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He defected to the APC in 2015, having been denied the senatorial ticket of the PDP under the control of incumbent Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose.
Meanwhile, Kogi Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya, told NAN in Lokoja on Monday that he was not aware of the kidnap.
Aya said that Okene -Lokoja road where the senator was said to have been kidnapped on was under effective policing and that the claim of abduction was doubtful.
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