…Son, party members kidnapped
A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Tajudeen Kolawole Fantola, was tragically killed on Wednesday, 13th March 2024, in Kogi State by kidnappers disguised as soldiers.
The deadly attack took place on the outskirts of Okene, where Alhaji Fantola, along with some of his party members and other travellers en route to Abuja, were ambushed by heavily armed kidnappers dressed in military uniforms.
The assailants launched a surprise attack on several vehicles, including Fantola’s convoy, along the Okene-Abuja road, and shot at travellers attempting to flee, either by car or on foot.
Alhaji Fantola was struck in the chest and died instantly at the scene, while his youngest son, Mubarak Fantola, along with other individuals, was captured and taken hostage into the surrounding forest.
This attack has shaken the political community, as Alhaji Fantola was no stranger to political violence. A long-time rival of the late Ibadan political heavyweight, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, Fantola had previously been targeted in multiple attacks by both political adversaries and armed groups.
The loss of such a key figure has sent shockwaves through the region, with both political figures and citizens expressing their grief over the senseless act of violence.
