Incident Summary:

03/15/2018: Assailants stopped a vehicle and abducted two West African Examinations Council (WAEC) education officials along the Igboho-Igbeti Road near the Old Oyo National Park, Orelope, Oyo, Nigeria. The two hostages were released on March 16, 2018 following the payment of a ransom. No group claimed responsibility for the incident; however, sources separately attributed the attack to Fulani extremists and Boko Haram.

GTD ID:
201803140035

When:
2018-03-15

Country:
Nigeria

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Oyo

City:
Orelope district

Location Details:
The incident occurred along the Igboho-Igbeti Road near the Old Oyo National Park.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (Diplomatic)
Name of Entity West African Examinations Council (WAEC)
Specific Description Officials: Alhaji Akeem Olajide, Gbenga Ojo
Nationality of Target International
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 2
US Hostages 0
Days of Kidnapping 2
Outcome Hostage(s) released by perpetrators
Ransom Yes
Total Ransom Amount Demanded 36106.10
Ransom Amount Demanded from US Sources 0.00
Total Ransom Amount Paid Unknown
Total Ransom Amount Paid by US Sources Unknown
Ransom Notes The assailants demanded $36,106.10 (13 million Nairas) for the release of the hostages.
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Hostage numbers conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the majority reliable estimates are reported here.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Boko Haram No
Fulani extremists No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 2 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 2
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Kidnapped WAEC staff members regain freedom," Nigerian Tribune, March 17, 2018.
"Boko Haram kidnaps 8 in Oyo," Online Nigeria News, March 15, 2018.
"Suspected Boko Haram Gunmen Kidnap Eight Passengers in Oyo," AllAfrica Web Publications (English) UNASSIGNED, March 16, 2018.