”My children’s abductors have asked for £100, 000 ransom” – Islamic Cleric Akuwegbagold cries out

It’s been one week since the two year old twin children of popular Oyo state Islamic cleric, Sheik Taofeeq Akewugbagold, were abducted from their home in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

The cleric who disclosed the kidnap in a post on his Facebook page in the early hours of Sunday April 26, announced that his children, a boy and a girl, were kidnapped at gunpoint at his Ojoo residence on Saturday night, April 25.

The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Fadeyi Olugbenga, who confirmed the incident to LIB, said efforts are being made by the state operatives to locate the abductors and rescue the children alive. However it’s been one week now and the twins are still with their abductors.

LIB reached out to children’s father, Taofeeq Akewugbagold, who disclosed that the abductors have contacted him and are demanding for £100, 000 ransom for their release.

”We have been contacted and we have been exchanging conversations with the abductors. We are begging them on a daily basis to reduce the ransom. They have asked for £100, 000 which is N55 million. Since then  we have been begging them and I believe they will consider our plea.

The abductors speak good English meaning they are graduates. They were first harsh but later very friendly. It is very unfortunate. I am appealing to the government to wake up to their duty. If things continue like this, only God knows what will happen.” he said

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Sheik Taofeeq said the mother of the twins who waited for 12 years before giving birth to them, has been terribly ill since the incident happened. She did a video few days ago weeping as she appealed to the abductors of her children to release them.

 ”We have been moving their mother from one hospital to the other since that day while for me, I am just trying to control myself because it is raising my BP. I put my hope in Almighty Allah.” he said

The cleric said the abductors have also sent him pictures of his children ”looking sad”  .

”They sent their pictures to us and we studied it and saw it was not photoshopped. The children looked sad. One was crying while the second one’s eye was swollen.  It is an experience I can never pray for my worse enemy. I need my children” he said

LIB tried reaching out to the state police command spokesperson to ascertain if there is any progress in the search for the twins but he was unavailable to pick our calls.