Bandits kidnap OPC leader, two others during ransom payment trip in Kwara

Suspected bandits have reportedly kidnapped a factional leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Kwara State, Chief Bayo Fabiyi, alongside two other members of the group.

Findings revealed that Fabiyi was abducted while leading the team to deliver a ransom of N30 million, five motorcycles, and three bags of rice demanded by the bandits.

The incident reportedly occurred last Sunday in Oko Irese town, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, as the OPC leader and his team ventured into a forest to deliver the ransom.

An aide to the OPC leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the victim for whom the ransom was intended had already been killed before their arrival.

“Unknown to the OPC chieftain and his team, the abducted victim that they wanted to deliver the ransom for had been killed by the terrorists.

“They took the items to a faraway hill inside the thick forests in Oko-Irese, that leads to Kogi State, after which they were suddenly abducted at gun point.”

Sources further revealed that Fabiyi had earlier sought spiritual guidance from an OPC member in Ilorin, who reportedly warned him against embarking on the mission.

“I was surprised that our boss still went on that trip. We didn’t even know that he went until this abduction incident happened,” the source added.

When contacted, the Kwara State Police Commissioner, Ojo Adekimi, said the command had not been informed of any such incident.

“Nobody informed the police of any kidnap incident involving any OPC member, so we weren’t aware that anyone went to deliver ransom items to terrorists,” he said.