After allegedly paying an N40 million ransom, residents of the Adanla community in the Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State were able to secure the release of nine of their members who had been kidnapped by bandits.
This occurred after ten further people were allegedly abducted by armed bandits on Wednesday in the Ahun and Oro-Ago areas inside the same local government region.
According to sources, there were six kidnappings in Ahun and four in the towns of Oro-Ago and Oyate early on Wednesday.
The Adanla kidnapping occurred when gunmen broke into Oba Olarinoye’s palace, the community’s ruler.
The hostages were freed on Thursday night after the kidnappers received an N40 million ransom, according to a community source.
“All of the Adanla 9 have reclaimed their freedom. The source declared, “To God be the glory.”
The victim’s widow said that her husband, Clement Emmanuel, a sawmill operator, and his apprentice, Solomon, were abducted while tree-cutting at a farm in Ahun village during the Oro-Ago incident.
Two other people, Adewole and Adebayo, were allegedly abducted as they were ready to begin burning down trees to make charcoal, according to another source.
The kidnappers had contacted Mrs. Emmanuel and demanded N10 million in ransom, she continued.
At a press conference yesterday, Adekimi Ojo, the state commissioner of police, informed reporters that he had not yet received an official briefing regarding the purported kidnapping of ten people in Oro-Ago and surrounding areas.
However, he clarified that after intercepted communications revealed plans by a suspected kidnapping syndicate to penetrate the area to service and refit motorcycles meant for illegal operations, his forces executed a planned joint intelligence-led operation in Oro-Ago.
Ten people were apprehended as a consequence of the operation, including a mechanic and a logistics worker who were allegedly providing fuel and other operational support to the syndicate.
“Ten Bajaj Boxer motorcycles that were recovered as exhibits were reasonably suspected to be operational assets for kidnapping and banditry activities,” he stated.
Additionally, there were unverified reports that on Friday, robbers raided the Eruku hamlet in the state’s Ifelodun local government area.
