Police say bandits kill Nigerian politician, abduct state cabinet member

Bandits

Police said unknown armed bandits have killed a Nigerian local council politician and abducted a cabinet member in a southwest state of Nigeria.

The incident, the police said happened on Sunday evening along Isan Ekiti-Iludun Ekiti Road, and identified the deceased a councillor with Ilejemeje council area.

The kidnapped cabinet member was said to be the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Folorunso Olabode, and another person.

The commissioner and two others, it was said were traveling in the same car along the road when the incident happened.

The Ekiti Ekiti State government in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, confirmed the commissioner’s abduction and shooting of the councilor, as it promises to ensure the release of those abducted.

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“We hereby confirm the abduction of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Olabode, by suspected bandits.

“From initial reports, the kidnappers shot one person in his entourage, the driver of the vehicle in the ensuing fracas.

“Governor Kayode Fayemi has mandated the security agencies in the state to ensure the prompt and safe release, while assuring residents that adequate measures are ongoing, to maintain the peace and security of the state.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident.

The police authorities said: “Three persons were in the commissioner’s car when they were attacked. One person died on the spot and the other two, including the commissioner, were kidnapped.”