Lawyer narrates how kidnappers abducted his wife, four children and killed their 13-year-old daughter in Abuja

A Nigerian lawyer, Oladosu Folorunso Ariyo, has written the Nigerian Bar Association for assistance after kidnappers in military camouflage abducted his wife, and their four children and later killed their 13-year-old daughter over failure to pay N60m ransom.

Mr. Ariyo, an alumnus of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) and indigene of Ekiti State, sent a desperate message to his colleagues on their WhatsApp group, seeking the intervention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The victims were abducted by the gunmen who invaded Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse axis of Abuja estate on January 7, 2024.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N60 million. Following their inability to raise the money, one of the children, Michelle was killed and her body dumped at Ida, near Ushafa in Bwari Area Council.

According to Ariyo, the kidnappers are threatening to kill his three remaining children and wife if he failed to pay the ransom.

Below is the message he sent on the WhatsApp group:

“Dear Seniors & Colleagues, Most respectfully, I’m Oladosu Folorunso Ariyo, a lawyer working in Abuja. On Sunday evening the 7th of January 2024, around 7:30 pm, a band of kidnappers dressed in full military camon invaded my home located at Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse, Abuja,” the message reads.

“They kidnapped my wife (who is also a lawyer) and our four children. The kidnappers called and demanded for 60 million ransom out of which through generous donation of friends and family, I’ve been able to raise the sum of N7 million naira which they have vehemently refused to collect.

“As at today, they’ve killed my first born- Michelle Ariyo (age 13) and dumped her corpse on Kaduna road while threatening to kill my 3 remaining children (who are all minors) and wife who are still in captivity. PLEASE AND PLEASE SIR, I URGENTLY NEED THE INTERVENTION OF NBA.”

It is believed this message was sent to NBA before news filtered in that the cruel kidnappers killed two more of their victims yesterday, Monday, according to Daily Trust.

One of the additional two killed was identified as an Ariyo.

However, no further details have been released since then.

The FCT Minister on Monday summoned an emergency meeting to deal with the rash of kidnappings in the capital city of Nigeria.

Wike disclosed this while speaking at an ongoing event where he assured FCT residents of their safety. He said the government was working to support security agents with all what they need to tackle insecurity.

Among those in attendance are heads of security agencies in the FCT, top officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), council chairmen as well as traditional rulers. Wike warned the area council chairmen to be alive to their responsibility at the local levels.

In the past few weeks, bandits have been ravaging some parts of Abuja and abducting residents from their homes.