By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
There is panic in Lagos State, Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, following the abduction of the Managing Director of Fouani Company, which represents LG and Hisense brands, along with three Lebanese nationals while they were travelling by boat in Lagos.
Lagos is reputed as the safest state in Nigeria, relatively insulated from the insecurity ravaging other parts of Nigeria.
But this abduction seem to have shattered that myth.
The abduction took place while President Bola Tinubu who is also former governor of the State is in town on Sallah holiday with the extra security cordon that entails.
The four foreign nationals were forcefully kidnapped near the Falomo Bridge as the victims were en route from Apapa to Victoria Island.
The names of the victims have not yet been confirmed.
A source familiar with the incident, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation, revealed that the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of $1.5 million.
“Yesterday evening, the Managing Director of Fouani Company (LG and Hisense) and three Lebanese were kidnapped around Falomo Bridge while travelling from Apapa to Victoria Island by boat. The kidnappers have asked for $1.5 million,” the source disclosed.
According to a Punch report, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stating, “Yes, it is true. We got the report and we are looking into it. Please, I’m not obliged to state more than that.”
When pressed for additional details, including the names of the abducted individuals and specifics of the abduction, Hundeyin responded, “I’m not obliged to state the names, when, where, and how it happened for now but we are looking into it.”
The incident has raised serious concerns about the security situation in Lagos, particularly regarding the safety of business executives and expatriates.
“This kidnap is not good for the image of Lagos. Before now, we thought that Lagos, even more than Abuja was the safest city particularly for expatriates and big company executives,” a chieftain of one of the blue chip companies, who spoke to TheNiche anonymously, lamented.
“Now, that myth has been shattered and everyone is panicking particularly given how brazen the operation was and where it took place. This will send very wrong signals and the governments, both state and federal, need to nip this on the bud before it begins to fester.”
