The chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Philip Aivoji, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Thursday evening. He was traveling back from a regional meeting in Oyo State when he was ambushed at the Ogere area along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
According to the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, Aivoji’s abduction was a violent incident and his current whereabouts or any communication from the abductors remain unknown. He said the party was deeply concerned about the safety of its chairman and called on the security agencies and the governments of Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos States to intervene promptly and secure his release.
“It is disheartening that kidnapping has become a prevalent issue in our country, and the government’s inability to address this menace is deeply concerning. The abduction of Aivoji underscores the pressing need for decisive actions from the government and stakeholders to eradicate this menace,” Amode said in a statement.
He also urged the public to support initiatives aimed at ending the threat to innocent lives and restoring peace and security in the country.
Aivoji’s kidnap is the latest in a series of high-profile abductions that have rocked Nigeria in recent months. In December 2023, more than 300 schoolboys were kidnapped by armed bandits in Katsina State but were later released after negotiations. In January 2024, 27 students and staff of the Government Science College in Niger State were abducted by gunmen, who are still holding them hostage and demanding ransom.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business for criminal gangs operating in Nigeria, especially in the northern and central regions. According to a report by SB Morgen, a Lagos-based intelligence firm, 3,620 people were kidnapped in Nigeria between July 2022 and June 2023, and the kidnappers demanded a staggering N5 billion (about USD 6.41 million) in ransom. However, the actual verified ransom payouts amounted to only N302 million (about USD 387,179), representing just six percent of the total ransom demanded.
The report also revealed that Kaduna State recorded the highest number of kidnapping incidents, followed by Niger and Zamfara States. It attributed the surge in kidnappings to the worsening economic situation, rising unemployment, poverty, and insecurity in the country.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly vowed to tackle the kidnapping crisis and restore law and order, but many Nigerians have expressed frustration and distrust over the authorities’ response. Some have resorted to self-help measures, such as forming vigilante groups, hiring private security guards, or paying ransoms themselves.
However, some experts and activists have called for more holistic and sustainable solutions, such as improving the capacity and welfare of the security forces, addressing the root causes of violence and criminality, enhancing the justice system, and promoting dialogue and reconciliation among the various stakeholders.
Source: Business Day
