Students’ leaders at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have begun a fundraising campaign to release their colleagues who were kidnapped by gunmen along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
President of the university’s students’ union, Sodiq Ajani, and the publicity secretary, Joy Okolie, had issued a statement soliciting funds to rescue their colleagues.
Two MAPOLY students, Adejare Olayemi and Oluwatobi Orekoya, and another female Aminat Taiwo, were kidnapped on Friday on their way to Ibadan, Oyo State, alongside a former deputy vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje.
The students and the professor were reportedly picked up near the Sat Guru Maharaji Garden, Ibadan end of the expressway.
The abductors later contacted the families of the victims and demanded N50m for Agbaje, while N10m each was demanded for the students.
It was gathered that during negotiation, the kidnappers agreed to take N2m for each of the students.
Speaking on the crowdfunding efforts, Ajani told PUNCH on Sunday, “Through friends and other supports, we have raised over N900,000 as of this morning (Sunday). The money is not complete yet; we are still soliciting more financial support.
“There are only a few hours left before the deadline given by the kidnappers.”
Ajani noted that the MAPOLY students’ union has reached out to the state government, the police and the Department of State Security.
On Sunday night, however, Oluwatobi’s family member, Segun Orekoya, told the newspaper that she has been released.
He added that she was released along with her friend, Taiwo, adding that N2.2m was paid for their ransom.
He said, “It is confirmed, they were released this evening (Sunday). The two girls were released after the kidnappers collected N2.2m.”
The male student Adejare has also been released, according to Ajani.
Unconfirmed reports also say the UI professor has been released.
