An officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service,
Lagos State Command, Peter Ofulue, has been
abducted by gunmen in the Owutu, Ikorodu
area of the state.


PUNCH Metro learnt that Ofulue was abducted
on Sunday in his apartment while he was
cleaning his car and in preparation for church.
Our correspondent gathered that Ofulue, who
is attached to the NIS passport office in Ikoyi,
Lagos, had earlier been abducted on Monday,
July 4, while going to the office.


The NIS officer was, however, released on
Wednesday, July 6, after the gunmen
dispossessed him of his phones and money.
Our correspondent was told that the gunmen
had reached out to the family members for a
ransom of N30m which could not be paid
before he was freed.


The gunmen, who were believed to have come
from a creek in the neighbouring Ishawo area,
reportedly returned to his residence on Sunday
and whisked him away again.
The matter was said to have been reported at
the Owutu Police Division.


The NIS National Public Relations Officer,
Ekpedeme King, confirmed the abduction.
He added that the NIS was working with the
police to ensure his rescue.


He said, “As you know that the immigration
service and the police are both under the
Ministry of Interior, we have a good synergy on
this matter. The case is with the police and they
are investigating. We have been told that the
gunmen have reached out to the family and
they are demanding a ransom.”


One of Ofulue’s neighbours, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said the gunmen
abducted three other persons in the area on
the same day.


He said, “The officer was preparing to go for a
thanksgiving service last Sunday when the
gunmen stormed his compound. He was
abducted along with three other persons in the
area.


“His family members were in Delta State for an
event when the gunmen struck. This is the
second time they would come for him. The
gunmen were four in number.”


A police source told PUNCH Metro that the
gunmen were believed to be working with
some people who lived in the area.


“The man was abducted in the first week of the
month and abducted again in the second week.
People who had been abducted in the area
were picked again because they did not pay
ransoms.


“Houses have been abandoned in the area due
to the fear of kidnappers,” he said.
Our correspondent learnt that the marine
police, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and
other police units had been deployed in the
area.


The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer,
SP Dolapo Badmos, could not be reached for
comments as her lines were switched off as of
press time.

He was unlucky twice