Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ILORIN, Nigeria — A group of armed men has abducted seven construction workers in Oba community, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, and are demanding a staggering ransom of ₦500 million for their release, heightening fears about the state’s deteriorating security situation.
According to local sources, the victims were seized on Tuesday while engaged in an ongoing road construction project in the rural community. Armed assailants reportedly stormed the site, overpowered the workers and marched them into nearby bushland without immediate resistance from security personnel or local vigilantes. Among those taken are two staff members of the Kwara State Ministry of Works, further deepening concern among families and government officials. The kidnappers made contact with relatives on Wednesday evening, setting an initial ransom demand of ₦500 million before any of the abductees can be freed. Families, distraught and uncertain, have appealed to the state government and security agencies to step up efforts to secure their safe release.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Oba and neighbouring communities, where residents already feel vulnerable to frequent banditry and violent crime. While authorities have not yet confirmed the ransom demand publicly, local residents told journalists that negotiations are ongoing and that families have been left in fear for the wellbeing of their loved ones. The sheer scale of the ransom sought has shocked many, given that individual families and communities often lack the financial resources to meet such demands, leaving them dependent on government intervention.
Kwara State has witnessed a worrying rise in kidnapping and banditry in recent months. In early December, a separate attack on a construction site along the Sabaja–Owa‑Onire Road resulted in several workers being abducted, prompting police and military patrols to scour nearby forests in search of the victims. Such incidents have underscored the expanding footprint of criminal gangs in rural areas, where dense forests and porous borders with neighbouring states provide hiding places for armed groups.
Security officials in Kwara have grappled with these mounting threats. Just weeks before the Oba abduction, a coordinated attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in the Ekiti Local Government Area resulted in more than 30 worshippers being taken hostage and ransoms in the hundreds of millions being demanded. That incident triggered protests from local youth and intensified pressure on state authorities to bolster security patrols and intelligence operations across vulnerable communities.
At a recent security council meeting convened by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, commanders from the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies reviewed strategies to counter the surge in abductions, acknowledging that criminal networks have exploited gaps in rural security infrastructure. The state’s Commissioner of Police reiterated that tactical deployments and air interdictions are being expanded to disrupt the activities of kidnappers, though communities remain sceptical about the speed and effectiveness of these efforts.
Family members of the abducted construction workers have expressed anguish and frustration. Some relatives complained that they were left to negotiate directly with the kidnappers, a situation that security analysts say emboldens criminal gangs and increases the risk of harm to captives. Calls for a stronger, coordinated response involving military units, local vigilantes and specialised anti‑kidnapping squads are growing louder, even as civilian fear deepens.
The kidnapping of construction workers also highlights the broader economic toll of insecurity in Kwara’s rural belts, where infrastructure projects critical to regional growth and connectivity are increasingly jeopardised by violent crime. Contractors and workers alike now operate under a cloud of risk, with some firms reportedly considering halting operations until security conditions improve. Analysts warn that without decisive action, the climate of fear could deter future investment and stifle economic opportunities for communities already grappling with poverty and limited public services.
In addition to ransom negotiations, residents are calling for greater transparency from security forces and regular updates on rescue efforts. Civil society organisations have urged both state and federal authorities to prioritise the safety of vulnerable rural populations, expand community policing initiatives and improve intelligence‑sharing mechanisms with local leaders. They argue that such measures could forestall future abductions and restore confidence among residents who feel increasingly abandoned.
As of Thursday, official statements from the Kwara State Police Command regarding the Oba abductions have been limited, with spokespersons indicating that investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, families of the abducted workers remain in limbo, waiting for news of progress and hoping for the safe and swift return of their loved ones.
The dramatic ransom demand underscores the growing brazenness of criminal outfits operating in Nigeria’s North‑Central corridor and the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms that protect citizens and infrastructure from the ravages of organised violence.
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