Philip Aivoji, the chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, who was recently abducted while returning from the party’s Stakeholders’ Zonal Caucus meeting convened by Oyo State, has been released.
The announcement came from Hakeem Amode, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Lagos, in a brief statement on Monday, January 20, 2024.
Aivoji was kidnapped on Thursday, January 25, 2024, in the Ogere area of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The abduction occurred after he attended the party’s Stakeholders’ Zonal Caucus meeting organized by the Oyo State Government.
Amode expressed gratitude for the support and prayers received during Aivoji’s four-day ordeal, stating, “Hon Philip Olabode Aivoji, the Lagos State PDP Chairman, is free at last after four days in the kidnappers’ den. We use this opportunity to appreciate your prayers most importantly because God’s mercies were visible all the way. Thank you all for your concerns and prayers.”
In an earlier statement condemning Aivoji’s abduction, Amode emphasized the need for immediate government action to address the issue of kidnapping in the country. He described Aivoji’s abduction as a violent incident, with his current whereabouts unknown.
Meanwhile, a group called the Badagry International Film, Cultural and Sports Festival (BIFIF) urged calm and prayers for Aivoji’s safe release. Viyon Awhanse, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BIFIF, stated in a release in Lagos that the PDP chairman required the support and prayers of the people of Badagry for his safe return.
