A trader identified as Hajia Amina Folorunsho-Balogun has been abducted by unknown gunmen who stormed her shop in the Plywood area of Epe, Lagos, Sunday night, August 7.

A trader identified as Hajia Amina Folorunsho-Balogun has been abducted by unknown gunmen who stormed her shop in the Plywood area of Epe, Lagos, Sunday night, August 7.

Vanguard reports that the kidnappers, who pretended to be customers, walked into her shop at about 10.07pm, requesting to buy water. Her husband was said to be in the shop with her. While the transaction was ongoing, one of the strangers, put off the power generating set, thereby throwing the entire shop into darkness. They collected the couple’s phones and beat them up. Thereafter, they locked her husband inside the shop, smuggled her into their vehicle, and drove away.

A relative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the kidnappers contacted the victim’s husband in the early hours of Monday, August 8, demanding a N50 million ransom for her release.

“After much bargain, they told him they would not go below N10 million. The family pleaded for N2 million but they declined. We have been going from place to place to appeal for funds.

We are appealing to the Lagos State government and well-meaning Nigerians to assist us“ the relative said

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said an investigation into the abduction of the trader had begun.

“The case was reported and we are making substantial movements. We don’t want to say much but we are making progress.”