Bandits Demand N500m Ransom for Abducted Construction Workers in Kwara

• Suspected bandits Demand N500m Ransom for Abducted Construction Workers in Kwara

Suspected bandits have demanded a ₦500 million ransom for the release of seven construction workers abducted in Oba community, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The workers were kidnapped on Tuesday, December 16, while carrying out duties on an ongoing construction project in the area. Armed men reportedly invaded the site, subdued the workers, and marched them into a nearby forest.

READ ALSO: Suspected Herdsmen Kill Four Children in Plateau Reprisal Attack

ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!

Among those abducted are two officials of the Kwara State Ministry of Works, raising concerns over the safety of public infrastructure personnel in the state.

A family source confirmed on Wednesday evening that the kidnappers had established contact and insisted on the payment of ₦500 million as a condition for the workers’ release.

“The kidnappers have reached out and demanded ₦500 million for the release of the seven construction workers,” the source said, appealing to the state government and security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure their safe return.

The incident comes amid growing security concerns in Kwara State, particularly in rural communities. It also follows recent controversies over armed operations in parts of the state, including reports of armed men operating with government-issued weapons—claims earlier dismissed by the state government as misinformation.

Subsequently, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) clarified that individuals recently arrested in the state were not criminals, noting that trained vigilantes and auxiliary forces may be supported under Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework to assist security agencies in difficult terrains.

Residents and civil society groups say the abduction highlights worsening insecurity in Kwara State, especially for workers engaged in public infrastructure projects, and have called for stronger protection of rural communities.