Kidnapped driver regains freedom in Ondo

By Michael Ofulue
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A middle-age driver simply identified as ‘Baba Kekere,’ who was reportedly abducted along Iju-Ado-Ekiti road in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State has regained his freedom after spending seven days in captivity.

Reports reaching The Hope Metro indicated that the victim regained his freedom at about 7pm on Saturday after an undisclosed ransom was paid to the hoodlums by the victims’ relatives and family.

The driver was kidnapped at a point close to the Police Secondary School, along Iju road, while driving in a mini grey colour Primera vehicle and whisked away to an unknown destination by his abductors who later demanded for five million naira ransom.

According to information, the kidnappers had after series of negotiations with his family reduced the ransom to one million naira. But the family pleaded with them  to reduce it .

Sources said the family pleaded with them that they could only afford to pay hundred thousand naira ransom which the criminals were said to have rejected the offer, until a reasonable amount was negotiated and paid on Friday, which led to his release on Saturday.

The Hope Metro gathered that all through the time the negotiation was ongoing, the driver’s family was warned not to involve the police. But the state Police Command shortly after the victim was abducted, launched a manhunt in search of the hoodlums and possible released of the victim.

When The Hope Metro contacted the officer in charge of Special Anti-kidnapping Squad (CSP), Afolayan Oladapo, he confirmed the release of the victim, adding that police are still working on the theory surrounding the incident, assuring the  suspects would soon be brought to justice.

He confirmed that the victim was released on Saturday evening and had since been reunited with his family, adding that the family has taken the victim for medical examination at undisclosed hospital in the town.

He said the police will invite the victim for information necessary to track down the hoodlums just as he called on the general public to always assist the police with relevant information that can help fight crime and criminality happening in the state.

However, the state Police commissioner, Mr Undie Adie, had lastweek held a stakeholders meeting with leaders of Miyetty Allah in the state with a view to finding lasting solution to kidnapping upsurge that is recently taking worrisome dimension in the state.