Kusamotu's Daughter Kidnapped, Yanked away from Hubby and Sucking-baby
The wave of insecurity threatening the citizenry continued last week with the kidnap of 24-year-old Mrs. Olayanju Kusamotu-Thomas. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Hameed Kusamotu, erstwhile Chairman of defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).
She was said to have been abducted at gun point by a gang of four on Sunday night at the Isheri-OPIC area of Lagos State. The abduction has left the husband stranded with a five-month baby who is often yelling either for her mum or for breast milk or both.
Late Kusamotu was also a member of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) during the Second Republic. In the Third Republic, he aligned with Umaru Shinkafi, who eventually became the flag bearer of the NRC. The party’s primaries were later cancelled by military president Ibrahim Babangida.
Incidentally, it was during his chairmanship that the June 12, 1993, presidential poll believed to have been won by the late MKO Abiola was annulled by the Babaginda administration.
THISDAY learnt that the couple - Mr. Babajide Thomas and the wife - were residing in London, United Kingdom, until recently when they had to return to the country for the victim’s compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
The couple, believed to be very close to each other, have enjoyed matrimonial amity since they began their marital ceremonies at the court registry last September, and consummated the union in an elaborate wedding ceremony just last July 23, after dating for six years.
Their joy was further increased five months ago with the entrance of a bundle of joy, their baby, whom they named Oluwatamilore, meaning “God has given me a present.”
Their seemingly normal family life style was however disrupted on that fateful Sunday at about 9.30pm when the dare devil men struck, leaving behind an anguished husband and a weeping baby. The anguish and suspense that accompanied the attack can only be imagined for a busy father who has suddenly become a baby-sitter and minder.
THISDAY learnt the husband and another couple were in the car with Olayanju behind the wheels when they were accosted, although he managed to escape, his wife was abducted.
According to him, “We had gone to the mum’s place for dinner and we were on our way home when we decided to buy fuel for our generator at the World Oil Fuel station in our area.
“Suddenly, we were double crossed by a car coming in the opposite direction and four hefty men armed to the teeth jumped at us and dragged me out of the car.”
Babajide went on to say that his initial thought was that they were armed robbers who were out to steal the car and he quickly acquiesced. He said he was however surprised when the kidnappers specifically demanded that they come out of their car and go into the other (the assailants’) car.
A struggle ensued and he escaped, but his wife was not so lucky as the kidnappers made away with her. He said he quickly ran back to the house to alert the family, but when they got back to the scene of the incident, to their utmost anguish, the kidnappers were nowhere to be seen.
However, he met the other couple beside the abandoned Red Honda CRV with the engine still running. Declining to comment on the action taken to rescue her, the family noted that concerted efforts were being made. Speaking to THISDAY, Olayanju’s uncle; Mr. Teslim Adewuyi, described her as a lovely, caring, homely and intelligent lady who always kept to herself.
He pleaded with Nigerians to join them in prayers for the safe return of their daughter, mother, wife and sister. The victim is a graduate of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State. She studied law and graduated in 2008. She travelled to the UK for her Master’s in maritime and commercial law but came back last month for her NYSC. She is among the batch C corps members who just left camp after their compulsory three weeks camp.
She now serves with Gold Link Insurance company. Although the family declined to disclose the amount of ransom demanded, sources said they had been contacted. According to them, the family was only called on Tuesday by the kidnappers leaving them in so much suspense.
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