Kidnappers Demand ₦200m Ransom for Abducted Kwara Petrol Dealer, Manager

A petrol station owner, Alhaji Abbas, and his manager, Abubakar Issa, were kidnapped on Friday evening by armed men in Gbugbu, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The incident occurred shortly after closing hours at Daniyan Shaba Global Investment filling station, located within the newly renovated Gbugbu International Market in the Kwara North Senatorial District.

Witnesses reported that the assailants, who arrived on motorcycles, stole an undisclosed amount of cash and set fire to a Toyota Sienna vehicle found at the station before abducting the victims.

Sources confirmed that the kidnappers have demanded a ₦200 million ransom for the release of the duo.

“This is not the first time Alhaji Abbas has been targeted,” a local source stated. “The fact that he has now been abducted, along with his manager, is deeply concerning.”

Residents believe the attackers fled into a nearby forest believed to be a criminal hideout. The community has since appealed to security agencies and the state government for urgent intervention.

“The rising insecurity is threatening our farming season,” a female eyewitness said. “With the rainy season underway, farmers are afraid to go to their land. If this continues, it could severely impact food production in the area.”

As of Sunday, the whereabouts of Abbas and Issa remain unknown. Repeated efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not returned.