Former Ekiti Senator Ayo Arise kidnapped by armed gunmen on his way to Abuja

ARMED gunmen have abducted the former senator representing Ekiti North senatorial district Ayo Arise as he travelled inbetween Ado Ekiti and Abuja yesterday in the latest incident of high profile kidnapping in Nigeria.

Senator Arise, who served in the National Assembly under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2007 and 2011, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), shortly before the state gubernatorial elections in 2015. A US-trained economist, he was kidnapped on his way to Abuja.

Over the weekend, Senator Arise attended several events in Ado Ekiti, the state capital and another function at his home town of Ikere Ekiti on Saturday. He also took part in a golf knock around with friends on Sunday at the Ado Ekiti Golf Club along Poly Road, Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

Recently, a former member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Rafiu Isiaka and one Jacob Olugbade were abducted by gunmen in the state. They were released after spending 11 days in captivity.

Both claimed they were kidnapped by armed Fulani men and that they paid N10 m to secure their release. So far, those who kidnapped Senator Arise are yet to make contact with his family or make any ransom demands.