Gunmen Kidnap Twin Children Of Popular Cleric In Ibadan

Gunmen have kidnapped a set of twins at the residence of an Islamic cleric in the Ojoo area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The two-year-old twins are children of a former Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrim’s Welfare Board (Muslim wing), Sheikh Taofeek Akeugbagold.

In a social media post where he broke the news, the victims’ father said the kidnappers attacked his residence at about 8pm on Saturday night after he went out for a Ramadan lecture.

He lamented that his wife was barren for 12 years before she was blessed with the twins and pleaded for their safe return.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo, Shina Olukolu, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Sunday.

He revealed that the police have arrested four suspects from the domestic staff of the cleric and were being questioned.

Mr Olukolu explained that the Islamic cleric had reportedly been threatened by two members of his staff who had been sacked, although he did not report to the police.

He noted that the sacked employees had been threatening their former boss on the phone before gunmen invaded his residence and kidnapped his two children.

The police commissioner added that one of the sacked workers who threatened the cleric was at large as he had moved away from his apartment.

As at the time of this report, no demand for ransom has been made but the police said investigations have commenced and gave an assurance that the children would be found and reunited with their family.