Photo: Kidnappers
The Police Command in Ekiti has confirmed the release of a woman and her daughter, kidnapped by unknown gunmen five days ago, after killing the husband.
It was learnt a huge sum was paid as ransom, out of the N50 million earlier demanded by the hoodlums, a day after their kidnap, a development the police said they were not aware of.
The abductors also freed six others, who were kidnapped at Otun Ekiti, Moba Local Government area of the state while traveling to Kwara State on Monday, while four persons were allegedly being held hostage by captors.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, ASP Sunday Abutu, said eight persons were rescued from the gunmen.
Abutu stated that they were rescued through the combined efforts of the police, Amotekun Corps and local hunters after giving the bandits a hot chase into the forest.
“We didn’t hear of payment of any ransom. Our security people did a great job. Immediately the incident happened,we started combing the surrounding forests and that yielded results.
“They were rescued due to good job done by security men and that was commendable”, Abutu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the husband of the woman and his family members were driving in a Lexus Jeep when the gunmen suddenly rained bullets on the car, along Ewu-Ewu-Ekiti- Ayetoro road.
The vehicle was said to have swerved off the road immediately the man was hit by bullets.
The gunmen had shortly after the kidnap of the man’s wife and daughter on Friday, contacted the family and demanded N50million ransom.
The woman and her daughter, who came for a burial from Lagos were kidnapped along Ayetoro-Ewu Ekiti road, after shooting the husband who died on the spot.
The abductors also freed six others, who were kidnapped at Otun Ekiti ,Moba Local Government area of the state while traveling to Kwara State , on Monday, while four persons were allegedly being held hostage by captors.
A local source revealed to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, that the victims were freed at a forest located at Ikun Ekiti , in Moba Local government area of the state Tuesday evening .
The source said each of the abductees paid a huge sum as ransom, which he didn’t disclose, to regain freedom.
“They all paid ransom and they did this under strict instruction that they should put the money inside polythene bags. They were released at a forest in Ikun Ekiti.
“Those who took the money to them only trekked for a few minutes into the forest before getting them.
”They were said to have threatened those who brought the money with guns.
“The two kidnapped guests have regained their freedom. They were freed on Tuesday night in the forest at Ikun Ekiti.”, the source said.
Continuing, the source said, ” The release was after we had paid ransom. I will not disclose the amount paid to the gunmen for security reasons, but we paid.
“The kidnappers are young Fulani men dressed in black pullover and black fez cap. They are armed with AK47. One of them even threatened ‘if you move further, I will waste you’.
“The four of them that I saw are below the age of 30, pointing their guns at us. They did not count the money, they only asked me to confirm that it was complete. We dropped the money at about 2pm, but they released the two guests alongside six others at about 8pm”.
