Kidnappers of Osun farmers receive N6m ransom, hold delivery team captives

FOLLOWING the abduction of two farmers, Samuel Oladotun and Fashola Tobiloba, in Osun State and the demand of N10 million by their abductors, the kidnappers have reportedly collected N6 million but refused to release the captives.

Rather, the abductors held the three-man team that delivered the ransom at a Kwara-Kogi boundary community of Epe and demand fresh N24 million before they would release the victims.

Samuel and Fashola were abducted while returning from farm at Oke-Osun area in Ileogbo, headquarters of Ayedire LGA of Osun State on Wednesday.

A family source informed Vanguard that the family negotiated with the kidnappers for N6 million, who requested that the ransom be brought to Epe, a border town between Kwara and Kogi.

“However, they later used the negotiators phone number to reach the family and informed us that the three-man team have been held hostage, demanding for additional N24 million for the release of the five victims,” said the source.

Spokesperson of Royal Ambassador, the organisation the victims belonged in the Baptist Church, Olanihun Zechariah, while confirming the incident, said: “It saddens our heart to inform you that those that took the ransom money to the kidnappers, who abducted our brothers, Samuel Oladotun and Fashola Tobiloba have also been detained after paying the ransom without the release of the two brothers. 

“We now have five people in the den of kidnappers. The kidnappers are now requesting additional N24 million for their release." 

Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the police have activated local and inter-state operations to locate and rescue the victims.

The governor reassured families of the victims that no stone would be left unturned to rescue their loved ones in captivity.

Culled from Vanguard