By Victor Akinkuolie Ado-Ekiti

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Two weeks after payment of ransom, suspected kidnappers of two men in Ekiti State, have reportedly refused to release them.

The development, The Hope Metro gathered, has caused apprehension about the condition of the captives.

The victims are Abayomi Fagbemi from Ilupeju-Ekiti, a nodal town in Oye-Ekiti Local Government Area and Musa Ojo from Kogi State, though a resident of Aisegba Ekiti, a community in Gbonyin Local Government Area.

The duo were kidnapped at gunpoint between Ilu-Omoba and Aisegba Ekiti few weeks back.

According to wife of one of the victims, Mrs Fagbemi, the abductors contacted her on telephone to demand for a ransom of N15million, which was later reduced to N10million a day after.

She stated that after much begging, the abductors agreed to collect N1million to secure the release of only her husband, while they agreed to N2million from the family of the other victim, who is a business man.

Fagbemi said after the ransom was paid two weeks as agreed, both families were shocked that the victims were not released.

She lamented that the family laboured hard to raise the money, with their hopes now being dashed by the adamant posture of the captors.

In tears, she narrated, “It is now two weeks after we paid the ransom, my husband has not been freed. This is eliciting serious threat, panic and tension in our town and family.

“Most traumatising was the fact that we have not been able to reach him on telephone over one and half weeks now. The number the kidnappers were using to reach out to us had been switched off.

The family, therefore, appealed to the Amotekun Corps and the Ekiti State Police Command to upscale their searches around Aisegba-Agbado-Imesi Irun and Aisegba-Agbado-Ise forests to rescue the victim from the captors.

Meanwhile, the Commander, Ekiti State Amotekun Corps, Retired, Brigadier General, Olu Adewa said the command “is making frantic efforts to rescue the victims.”

 He explained that he was not fully aware if any ransom was paid by the families of the victims. But he promised to rescue the victims free without any hitch.           

Also contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the receipt of the matter.

He promised to get back to our correspondent on their efforts.