A 60 year old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School in Igbojaye, Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr Matthew Kolawale Owoade, popularly known as Onaiye, has reportedly been kidnapped by suspected gunmen.
The incident was said to have occurred on Saturday evening between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. while the school headmaster was returning home after visiting his farm.
The victim’s son, Abiola Owoade, said his father was intercepted by armed men along the way and taken to an unknown location.
The family disclosed that the kidnappers later contacted them through the victim’s mobile phone and demanded a ransom of N30 million in exchange for his release.
Hope of finding the victim received a slight boost on Sunday morning when a search team discovered his abandoned motorcycle in a nearby bush at about 8:20 a.m., although his whereabouts remain unknown.
The incident has thrown the victim’s family, colleagues and members of the education community in Itesiwaju Local Government Area into deep concern, with many calling for urgent intervention from security agencies.
They appealed to the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the headmaster safely and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
The family also urged members of the public to provide any useful information that could assist security operatives in securing the victim’s safe return.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the victim, identified as Mr Matthew Owoade, was abducted while on his farm in Budo Aare.
He added that security operatives have launched efforts to rescue the victim unharmed and track down those behind the abduction.
