By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
Palpable fears have gripped residents and people of sleepy Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State over Thursday’s kidnap of a bride-to-be and two others at a spot along Ageva – Magongo barely 48 hours after their abduction.
Stonix News (SN) has, exclusively on Friday night, reported the abduction of the trio including a Special Adviser to the chairman of the local government, Mr Goke Oparison, and the subsequent demand of N30 million as ransom by their abductors.
The bride-to-be, Miss Deborah Ijese Afolabi and the two others, were on their way to Ogori when they were abducted around 9:00p.m on Thursday, December 16, 2021 with less than 10 days to her wedding engagement and registry.
Miss Afolabi was actually billed for the wedding with her heartthrob, Augustin Alariogun Ibrahim, 10:00a.m on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021 at Ogori before the incident.
But 24 hours after the report filtered out through SN platform, fear has reportedly gripped family members of the bride as well as Ogorians who have been planning to travel home for the Yuletide as the custom is.
Most of the outrages and fears over the abduction of the bride and the two other victims were expressed on the social media.
This is expected as convivial festivities of Eregba performances of several groups such as Ijeda, Enirete and Tibile have their preparations already at feverish pitch ahead of the Yuletide with many home-sick diasporic Ogorians ready to storm their cradle.
Segun Abolade, in his reaction on Facebook to the kidnap, prayed: “Johovah, I beg u have mercy on the road of magongo, let those behind it be exposed and disgrace.”
Chris Osiyi, another respondent, described the incident as “terrible,” praying to God for “quick release.”
Eyitayo Elijah also waxed spiritual, prophesying that “by the mercy of God, you shall be released immediately in Jesus name amen and Amen.”
A respondent on the WhatsApp platform of the Community Comprehensive High School (CCHS), Ogori Alumni group, simply identified as ‘Action Man,’ lamented the situation, but warned those contemplating travelling home for Christmas to eschew night journeys.
“Very sad and deeply worrying news. I pray they are released unharmed in Jesus name.
“The fact that these scums (sic) operate within the route to Ogori is troubling seriously.
“Let us also inform our relatives and friends to avoid night trips especially this festive season.
“Something needs to be done security-wise along that corridor; we shouldn’t live in fear of traveling to our dear Ogoriland o,” he pleaded.
Meanwhile, more details have emerged on how the three persons played into the hands of the kidnappers along the Ageva-Magongo road last Thursday night.
The bride was said to have called on phone the SA to the local government chairman, Mr Oparison, identified as Seun, that she was stranded as she couldn’t access commercial vehicle from Okene to Ogori.
Sources told SN that moved by her predicament, the SA took his car, accompanied by a friend, and headed for Okene to convey her home.
The sources said they were on their way back to Ogori when the hoodlums waylaid their vehicle and abducted them to an unknown destination.
Authorities of the Kogi State Police Command have not issued a statement on the incident, but the abandoned vehicle by the kidnap suspects has been reportedly taken and parked in the yard of the police station at Ogori.
Meanwhile, a relative of the bride, Pastor Flourish Atoju, who’s the Founder and General Overseer of Spring of Grace Assembly, said efforts were still being made, as of Saturday morning, to reach the N30 million demand of the kidnappers.
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