The four passengers kidnapped along Irele – Oke Ako Road in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Wednesday evening, have been released by their abductors after allegedly paying a N1 million ransom.
The gunmen, who stopped the two vehicles along the road and whisked the four occupants away into their den in the bush, reduced the N20 million ransom initially demanded to N1 million which the families said they could afford.
A source at Oke Ako said, “The four persons were set free this morning after payment of N1 million which was contributed by their different families and as well drivers around here who launched fundraising appeal because drivers were involved.
“Shortly after they were kidnapped on Wednesday evening, the gunmen reached out to the family of one of them demanding N20 million. But nothing could be done on it until Thursday when the families of the four victims came together and started negotiation,” the source said.
Another source, who corroborated her, said, “Initially, the gunmen demanded N20 million, later reduced it to N15million, N8million until they finally settled for N1 million. One million naira is brisk business for the gunmen under 36 hours anyway.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, said, “They have been released.”
