After paying a N5 million ransom, the three relatives of dead Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) agent Segun Ayebulu are once again free.
Along the Oke Ako-Irele Ekiti road, in the Ajoni Local Council Development Area of the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, the officer was shot dead by kidnappers last Saturday. His younger brother, Oyewole Ayebulu, his 5-year-old child, Ayebulu Kayode, and his 11-year-old son, Ayebulu Oluwajomiloju, were also taken hostage.
Before releasing the victims, the kidnappers also took satchels of milk, recharge cards, and alcoholic beverages in addition to the money they had been given.
On September 7, the assailants who had earlier demanded N30,000,000 from the relatives of the three victims freed the hostages in a bush in Ayede-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area, Ekiti State.
“They were released this evening after the family paid about N5million in the bush in Ayede axis. Apart from that, they collected N100,000 for recharge cards, sachets of milk and alcoholic drinks. They added these on Tuesday as conditions for their release,” a family source said.
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“They are being taken to hospital for medical attention as I speak. We are happy we did not lose them as the gunmen killed the NSCDC officer.”
The Regent of Oke Ako, Princess Tinuade Ogunbiyi, also confirmed that the three victims have been released.
“My people have called to inform me that they have been released. I cannot say how much was paid to secure their release”.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for Ekamefa, communities, Ajoni LCDA, Abayomi Oluwafemi, lambasted the Federal Government for its inability to make anything out of the national identification scheme which it said would be used to trace criminals, among other benefits.
“The criminals have been speaking with our people on phone since Sunday and nothing can be done to track them and their location, this is bad. It turned to a situation where we were negotiating for release of human beings as if it was tomatoes, this is bad.”
The Corps Commander, Ekiti State Amotekun Corps, Brig. Gen. Joe Komolafe (retd) confirmed that the three persons who were whisked away by the kidnappers last Saturday had been released.
“Our men were in the bush in search of the kidnappers and the three persons. Good they have been released,” he said.
Confirming the development, spokesperson of the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, said, “Immediately the incident occurred, the Command set up special operatives to go after the hoodlums and ensure the safe release of those held hostage. The Command had been working with the family members through the Area Commander and DPO in charge of that jurisdiction
“The joint operations that include the police and other security agents as well as the Amotekun, not excluding their family members have yielded this positive result. Meanwhile, the command is not aware of any ransom paid,”
