The police on Wednesday gave an insight into how t,he Chief Imam of Iyara in the Ijumu Local Government Area Sheikh Quasim Musa, was kidnapped.t2
Specifically, the police said Quasim was kidnapped on Monday night outside his house in Ilukpa, Iyara headquarters of the Ijumu Local Government Area by gunmen who invaded the area and started shooting sporadically before taking their victim away to an unknown destination.
A family source said that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N100 million.
The source said:“Dear compatriot sons and daughters of Iyara land, it is sad to announce to you all that our community had its own share of the current insecurity bedeviling the nation on Monday 25th, March 2024.
“Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen stormed the House of the Chief Imam of Iyara land, Sheikh Quasim Musa, and kidnapped him after shooting sporadically.
“The religious leader was abducted at about 2200hrs after he came back from mosque and slept outside his house in Ilukpa, Iyara headquarters of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“This dastardly act is cowardice and unfortunate, happening to a Religious Leader in this Holy month of Ramadan. We use this medium to call on relevant authorities to ensure that he is released.
“You’re hereby requested to commence fervent prayers as for efforts being made to rescue him from kidnappers’ den to yield positive results in no distant time. Once again, you are all requested to pray for his safe return,” the family source was quoted to have said.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday said that “The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State has deployed tactical team, PMF, quick response unit, Divisional Police, alongside local vigilantes and other security agencies to ensure that the man is rescued unhurt.”
