TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the release of Philip Aivoji, chairman of the party’s Lagos chapter.

Hakeem Amode, spokesperson of the party in Lagos, confirmed the abduction on Friday. Aivoji and other party members were reportedly kidnapped on Thursday along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while returning from a meeting.

Amode said the PDP chairman was in Ibadan to attend a meeting convened by Seyi Makinde and Ademola Adeleke, governors of Oyo and Osun states, respectively.

In a statement on Saturday, Debo Ologunagba(pictured), PDP’s national publicity secretary, said the party is “seriously concerned about Hon. Aivoji’s well-being and safety especially considering his age and health status”.

“Our party condemns the distressing spate of kidnap for ransom, mindless killings, marauding of communities and other acts of terrorism across the country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s watch and calls for urgent action to ensure the release of all those held in kidnappers’ dens in various parts of the country,” Ologunagba said.

“The alarming situation is an agonising confirmation that the security intelligence, command, operation and coordination structure under President Tinubu has collapsed.

“It is lamentable that despite widespread outcry by Nigerians, the Tinubu administration remains insensitive, nonchalant and laidback on security matters.”

The PDP alleged that despite the spate of killings, “President Tinubu has not taken any concrete presidential measure to stem the carnage beyond issuing insipid press statements and extemporaneous security orders whenever an attack occurs”.

“More heartrending is that the Tinubu-led APC administration continues to play to the gallery by mouthing false assurances while many Nigerians are languishing in kidnappers’ dens and families grieving over the daily killing of our citizens by terrorists,” the party added.

Meanwhile, the Ogun state police command says it is on the trail of Aivoji’s abductors.

Speaking with journalists on Friday, Abiodun Alamutu, Ogun commissioner of police, said the police would catch up with the suspects.

Alamutu said nine of the abductees were released after the police engaged the gunmen in a duel.

“It is true, they were kidnapped on Thursday evening at Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway,” he said.

“Our men engaged them and in the process nine of the victims were released but the PDP chairman was taken away.”