Local News Security Report

Police rescue Chinese abducted in Kwara; Four victims freed in Ekiti after N1m ransom payment

adminJuly 9, 2022

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Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo, Ilorin/Adedeji Egbebi, Oke-Ako (Ekiti State)

July 8, 2022

Police in Kwara have rescued the Chinese national abducted by gunmen on July 3 at a construction site on Shao-Oloru Expressway.

This is contained in a statement issued in Ilorin on Friday by police spokesman, SP Ajayi Okasanmi.

He stated that police operatives on the rescue mission were still in the bushes to arrest the culprits.

Okasanmi added that the rescued Chinese is currently undergoing medical examination to ascertain his state of health before his reunion with his family.

“The pressure mounted on the kidnappers by the rescue teams became so intense that the criminals could no more stand the heat, forcing them to abandon the victim and escape for their lives.

“In another development, operatives apprehended some suspects trafficking in human body parts as they were taking a human skull from Lagos State into Ilorin.

“On the strength of information received, operatives arrested a 41-year-old man in Ilorin for the crime.

“The suspect had earlier received the package from a motor park. Upon a search, a human skull concealed in a carton with his name and phone number inscribed on it was recovered.

“Preliminary investigation into the matter revealed that the suspect actually procured the human skull, a horse head, a chimpanzee head and other items.

“The other items were recovered in his house, and he confessed he intended to use them for money-making rituals,’’ he stated.

Okasanmi added that Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tuesday Assayomo, commended the operatives for a job well-done,

He admonished the investigating team to ensure that other accomplices of the kidnap suspect were arrested and prosecuted.

He also enjoined transport unions in the state to always cooperate with law enforcement agents in the onerous task of getting rid of crime, Okasanmi also stated.

Meanwhile, abductors who kidnapped four persons between Oke-Ako and Irele roads in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Wednesday have freed the captives on Friday after collecting N1million ransom.

Police spokesman in Ekiti State, DSP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the release of the victims.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assailants earlier demanded N20 million ransom which the families could not afford.

“The four persons were set free after payment of N1 million which was contributed by our different families and drivers around here who launched a fundraiser because drivers were involved.

“Shortly after they were kidnapped on Wednesday evening, the abductors reached out to the family of one of them demanding N20 million.

“Nothing could be done until Thursday when the families of the four victims came together and started negotiation,’’ a family source said.

Residents of the town also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the negotiation went between N15 million and N8 million before it settled at N1 million.

The ransom was paid at Kuru in Kwara because Ekiti shares border with Kwara at Kuru and at Eruku.

“We appeal to the federal and state governments to help us to dislodge gunmen from the bushes around here so that we can be at peace and as well be able to return to farming,’’ a source said.

adminJuly 9, 2022

0 247 2 minutes read