Former Ondo State Speaker kidnapped

Former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker
Victor Olabimtan was yesterday kidnapped in
Kwali, near Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Olabimtan, an All Progressives Congress (APC)
governorship aspirant, last Thursday, declared
his intention to contest the October election.
He was speaker during the administration of the
late Dr Olusegun Agagu and was recently
commissioner representing Ondo, Ekiti and Edo
states in the Federal Civil Service Commission.
The former speaker was said to be going for a
meeting in Abuja when some gunmen in army
fatigues abducted him at a check point.
Sources said Olabimtan's driver, popularly called
Agba, was set free by the kidnappers.
The abductors have demanded N20million for
his release.
The media aide to the Supare-Akoko-born
politician, Zadok Emmanuel, confirmed the
incident.
He said the abductors stopped Olabimtan’s
vehicle at a check point and whisked him away
after they had shot sporadically into the air.
According to him, the abducted former State
Chairman, Teaching Service Commission
(TESCOM) has not spoken to his family.
He pleaded with security agencies to ensure
Olabimtan’s timely release.
The incident has been reported to the FCT Police
Command in Abuja.
When our reporter visited the former Speaker’s
home at Alagbaka in Akure, his relatives were all
in a sober mood.
One of his close associates and former
supervisor in Ose Local Government Area, Isaac
Obiniran, pleaded with the kidnappers to release
his principal.
Also kidnapped was the State Chairman of the
Muslim Welfare Board, Alhaji Abdulrashidi
Ajifowowe.
But it was gathered that they were abducted at
different times on the same road.
The APC in a statement by its Director of Media
and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said:
''We appeal to the security agencies to
expedite action on his rescue. We gathered that
the kidnappers had contacted the Victor
Olabimtan Initiative for Change and
Emancipation (VOICE) and are demanding
N20million for his release.
''We, however, seek the support of all
Nigerians in prayers to ensure his rescue.''