Imam Abdullahi, a Muslim cleric and mosque leader in Saki, Saki west Local Government, Area of Oyo Oyo state, has been released barely five days he was abducted at gunpoint by some suspected Fulani kidnappers.
Imam was abducted by kidnappers who failed to track down a filling station owner. They collected N3 million before releasing their victim.
Abdullahi, 42, was whisked away by the kidnappers at 8:30 pm after completing his Isha’i (late-night prayer) on Wednesday, November 15, at Erinfolami filling station, Oke-Alafia in Saki.
The five-man kidnapping gangs were said to have come for the owner of the filling station, Alhaji Abdul Majeed Erinfolami, wielding sophisticated guns.
According to a source who does not want his name mentioned, the gunmen trailed Mr Erinfolami to his filling station, but he had already left before the kidnappers entered the mosque.
“What saved him was he did not observe Ishai with us. If he did, he would have been captured inside the mosque. The moment they entered the mosque, they were asking the whereabouts of the filling station owner.
“Everyone was in fear,” the source told online news medium, adding that the Imam was picked up and bundled into their waiting car.
“We did not know they were kidnappers. We thought they were SARS policemen. When they were leaving, they shot into the air and shouted ‘Bismillah’ before speeding away. Those whom they met inside the mosque came out and narrated what happened,” he added.
Erinfolami Filling Station where Imam Abdullahi was abducted by suspected kidnappers
Imam released after five days in captivity
after some hours, the family of the abducted Imam was able to establish contact with the kidnappers, who demanded a ransom of N100 million and insisted that their target speak to them.
They also requested that he should be involved in the negotiation.
After many pleas, Abdullahi was released to his family on Saturday evening, November 18.
Another source close to the victim confided in this publication that three million naira was paid as ransom, thanks to Mr Erinfolami. He, however, could not state if he was involved in the negotiation as requested by the kidnappers.
When the news medium visited the Imam in his house, our correspondents met a lot of sympathisers.
Abdullahi himself was sitting on the sofa receiving treatment. He could not speak to this publication.
Source: Daily Insider
