The family of Rofiat Lawal, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member abducted along the Benin-Ore Expressway on Tuesday, February 25, has alleged that the driver of the vehicle she boarded was complicit in her kidnapping. Rofiat’s sister, Aminat Lawal, told Punch on Thursday, February 27, that Rofiat was on her way back to her Place of Primary Assignment in Oyo State when the incident occurred.
According to Aminat, Rofiat recounted how the driver stopped at Ore, after which kidnappers emerged from a nearby bush, took the passengers, and the driver sped off.
“When we spoke with the kidnappers, they initially demanded N25 million for her release, but we told them we couldn’t afford such an amount.
She sponsored herself through school, and we don’t have that kind of money,” Aminat said. “After several negotiations, they reduced the ransom to N5 million.”
A friend of the victim, identified as Agbakwara, also raised the alarm on Facebook, highlighting Rofiat’s struggles. He revealed that she worked at the Dufil company in Benin to support herself through university and that her parents are financially disadvantaged, making it impossible for them to pay the ransom.
In a desperate attempt to secure Rofiat’s freedom, her family has turned to crowdfunding to raise the required amount.
