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Father of 10 kidnapped, killed in Ogun
By Dayo Badmus,
A 37 year old father of 10 children has been kidnapped and killed in Ogun state.
Gbenga Falana, better known as Onile, a young husband of three wives who until his death was working as hotel manager was kidnapped right in front of the hotel at Afami, a community under the Yewa North local government of ogun state.
*Chief Stephen Falana*
According to one of his wives, Cecilia Falana, Gbenga just finished watching a football match alongside customers who trooped into the hotel to relax and watch the football game.
“Gunmen came in shooting sporadically and whisked him away into the bush. they picked him directly from many people. they called us and we git their to find no help. as at the time we got there, we continued to hear their gunshots as they took him into the bush. there was nothing we could do” she said
Speaking further, Cecilia said, she started calling her husband’s phone number for hours after he was taken away. she said one of the kidnappers eventually picked the call after over 6hours in the early hours of Wednesday 12th of January.
“I told the person I want to speak with Gbenga. He said he is not available and dropped the call. I called my mother in-law to inform them that, the number is now going through. we started fresh efforts in the morning with no results”
Late Gbenga’s father, Chief Stephen Falana, who is also the Baale of Afami said earlier on Wednesday, the kidnappers demanded a whooping ₦60million for the release of Gbenga. According to him, the ransome was later reduced to ₦50million when they begged.
“They threatened that, if we dont bring the money before a time, we will not meet Gbenga alive. we still begged them.”
A combined team of local hunters, Vigilante groups, volunteers and youths of the community decided to embark on a search after all efforts to
invite the police failed.
According to chief Stephen, the Dangote Police station was contacted as well as the Divisional Headquarters at Imasayi with no visible effort.
The Youth leader of Afami, Mr. Kabiru said, when the team got into the bush, after several hours of serious searching, they got to where Gbenga was being held hostage inside the bush at Aga Olowo, Ewekoro local government.
“It became a serious battle as they started shooting at our men. they had sophisticated weapons and we were only lucky to come back with Gbenga as the only dead person. they wanted to kill more. they promised to kill Gbenga if money was not brought to them and they did. they killed him about an before we got there.” he said.
Gbenga has since been buried and as at the time out reporter got to the community on Wednesday, 19th of January, youths have gathered and were protesting the kidnapping and eventual killing of one of them.
According to them, the Dangote cement factory has done more harm than good to them.
“The security of our land is no longer guaranteed. we now have all sorts of people in our midst. most expecially Hausas and Fulanis. The people who kidnapped and killed Gbenga were Fulanis. they spoke with us. we have their voices recorded. the government is not helping.”
Further investigation by our reporter revealed it was nit the first time people are being kidnapped in the area. according to information, it took the payment of ₦3million ransom for one Alhaji Buruma
released. ₦2million was also paid to secure the release of one Caroline.
