Armed terrorists abducted a female trader in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, and now demand N20 million ransom while threatening to kill her if the family misses their tight deadline.
The kidnappers rejected the family’s desperate offer of N3 million—raised hurriedly by selling personal assets—and issued chilling warnings in audio messages.
Family members shared these recordings with Sahara Reporters on January 16, 2026, revealing the abductors’ insistence on full payment soon or the woman’s immediate execution.
The victim, a trader who traveled within the state, fell into the hands of the gunmen in Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area.
Since the abduction, frantic negotiations have unfolded.
The family scraped together N3 million through asset sales, yet the kidnappers dismissed the sum outright.
This latest attack fuels alarm across Kwara State, where kidnappings surge relentlessly.
In recent months, gunmen targeted two traditional rulers.
One monarch regained freedom after ransom payment, but the second—along with his son—remains captive.
Other incidents include the abduction of seven construction workers (with N500 million demanded), multiple highway ambushes on routes like Isanlu–Isin–Omu Aran, and attacks on communities that left dozens held for huge ransoms.
Residents and online commentators express deep frustration.
Many point to escalating Fulani-linked incursions in Yoruba-dominated areas and accuse authorities of inadequate response under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration.
Public outrage grows as families repeatedly sell land, borrow heavily, or plunge into debt to meet escalating demands.
Security experts warn that without decisive action—stronger patrols, intelligence-led operations, and community vigilance—the cycle of abductions will intensify, further eroding safety in Kwara’s rural and highway corridors.
As the deadline looms, the trader’s fate hangs in the balance, spotlighting Nigeria’s persistent kidnapping crisis that preys on vulnerable travelers and residents alike.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on this specific case.
