Gunmen Kidnap Renowned Businesswoman, Yinka Oba; Driver Found Dead

Mrs. Olayinka Obaleye, a renowned businesswoman and the Managing Director of Yinka Oba Foam in Ilo, State of Osun, has been abducted by suspected kidnappers.

Obaleye's business complex was under lock and key on Wednesday, November 20, 2013.

Mrs. Obaleye was kidnapped on Tuesday night in front of the foam factory at Ilo, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun.

The assailants reportedly murdered her driver during the attack.

The businesswoman and her workers had already finished the work for the day, and they were about to leave the factory when the assailants struck.

A source, who spoke to the journalists on conditions of anonymity said the suspected kidnappers were armed with guns. The abductors were said to have grabbed Mrs. Obaleye and took her away to an unknown destination.

Mr. Abubakar Saliu, a security man at the factory, said when Mrs. Obaleye wanted to go home, another security man went to open the gate for her.

The security man further narrated that just as he went inside the factory building to switch off the electrical appliances; he suddenly heard gunshots and he rushed out to know what was amiss.

He said that on getting out, he met a food vendor screaming "trouble, trouble", adding that he later found Obaleye's driver, identified as Alhaji Kamal, in the gutter soaked in his blood. By then, the other workers, including the factory's manager, had fled.

The Commissioner of Police in Osun, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, confirmed the incident through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Folasade Odoro.

She said that detectives from the state police command had been deployed to hunt down the abductors, with a view to securing the freedom of the businesswoman.