Nigeria: Families in agony as kidnappers demand ₦500M for abducted Kwara road workers
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
Fear and uncertainty continue to grip families in Kwara State after kidnappers demanded a staggering ₦500 million ransom for the release of five road construction workers abducted while on duty.
The workers were taken on December 15, 2025, from a government road construction site along the Sabaja–Owa-Onire Road in Isin Local Government Area. Since their abduction, relatives say their lives have been plunged into emotional turmoil as they struggle to cope with the uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones.
Speaking on behalf of the families, a relative described how the attackers stormed the construction site late in the morning and forcefully took away the workers and their driver. According to him, the kidnappers later contacted the families with the ransom demand, a figure far beyond anything they could ever raise.
“Our lives have been suspended between hope and despair,” he said. “How can ordinary families raise ₦500 million? These men only went to work to earn a living.”
He stressed that the victims were hardworking individuals contributing to the development of their communities, not criminals or adventurers. Their sudden disappearance, he said, has left wives, children, and elderly parents devastated and struggling to survive.
Family members acknowledged ongoing efforts by security agencies but warned that time was running out. They explained that the emotional toll was worsening by the day, with many households now facing hunger, anxiety, and psychological trauma due to the loss of their primary breadwinners.
The families appealed passionately to the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, establish direct communication with them, and provide welfare and emotional support while the search continues. They also called for stronger security around construction sites and rural roads to prevent further attacks.
In an emotional plea, relatives appealed directly to the abductors to show mercy and release the workers unharmed, reminding them that the victims are fathers, sons, and brothers.
One of the wives, speaking through tears, begged for her husband’s return, revealing that the stress from the abduction had caused her to lose a baby.
Authorities say investigations and security operations are ongoing as efforts continue to secure the safe return of the abducted workers.
