A former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Arise, has been abducted by unknown gunmen.
He was kidnapped on Sunday along the Okene-Lokoja road while on his way to Abuja.
The senator’s abductors have on Monday contacted the family and demanded N80 million ransom.
He was reportedly kidnapped alongside his driver and taken to an unknown location.
Arise attended a ceremony in Ikere-Ekiti where chieftaincy titles were conferred on a former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin and his wife, Chinyere by the Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu.
He later played golf at the Ado-Ekiti Golf Course along Poly Road before retiring to his country home to hold political meetings with his supporters.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an aide to Arise said: “Yes, he visited Ekiti State on Saturday before returning to Abuja.
“When we wanted to establish contact with him, we could not. The last time I called him was around 6:00 p.m. So the kidnap must have taken place around 7:00 p.m.
“They have contacted us and demanded a sum of N80m ransom. We are worried because we don’t know his situation.
“The family is working hard to secure his release and we have contacted all the relevant agencies including the police to come to our aid.”
The politician is also a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for next year’s governorship poll in Ekiti.
He dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for APC shortly before the 2015 general elections.
