28th April, 2016
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has assured the people of the state that Sen. Iyabo Anisulowo, who was kidnapped by gunmen on Wednesday, would soon be rescued alive.
Amosun gave the assurance on Thursday when he visited the farm of the Anisulowos at Sawon community in Yewa-North Local Government Area.
Anisulowo, a former senator, was abducted at about 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday between Sawon and Imaseyi junction in the council area.
Amosun was accompanied by heads of security agencies in the state including the state Commissioner of Police, state Director of the DSS and the Commandant of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Abeokuta.
The governor said that security officials had already been detailed to ensure a speedy rescue of the victim.
“The government is already interfacing with security officials and I can assure you that everyone here is involved, including the local farmers, hunters and vigilante service.
“We will rescue her alive and bring her back safely and I believe that in a matter of hours, we will have cause to thank God over this incident.
“We are ready for the abductors and they will regret what they have done.
“Ogun State will never be a comfort zone for criminals,” he said.
Amosun, who described Anisulowo as enterprising and industrious, said she was passionate about farming.
Bala Hassan, the Assistant Inspector General(AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 2 comprising Lagos and Ogun Commands, described the development as “unfortunate.’’
Hassan, who recalled the arrest of the kidnappers of school children at Ikorodu in Lagos State, gave an assurance that Anisulowo’s kidnappers would suffer the same fate.
The victim’s husband, Aderemi, who condemned the act, expressed satisfaction at “the timely response” of the state government.
Anisulowo’s driver, Wasiu Afonja, who had earlier painted a graphic picture of the incident to Amosun, said the kidnappers had laid siege to their vehicle in a bush while they were returning from the farm.
He said the kidnappers, who were four in number, attacked the jeep in which he, Anisulowo as well as two other occupants were travelling.
Afonja explained that the kidnappers pulled him and two other occupants from the car and beat them up before driving away with Anisulowo.
The Commandant of the Vigilante Service in charge of Yewa-South Local Government Area, Zachaeus Oluyemi, expressed the belief that the kidnappers were still within the community.
He also gave an assurance that the victim would be rescued while the kidnappers would be arrested.