Gunmen Free Five Kidnapped Commuters in Ekiti

By Victor Ogunje

The Ekiti State Police Command has said five commuters kidnapped along the Ayedun-Ilasa-Ayebode road in Ikole Local Government Area of the state last week have regained freedom.

They were said to have been released on Sunday and no one could confirm whether ransom was paid or not.

The victims were kidnapped last week Thursday at various locations in Ilasa and Ayebode during a coordinated attack by bandits terrorising that axis in recent time.

The hoodlums had initially engaged soldiers, who were summoned by the commuters, in a gun duel, before snatching the commuters and escaped into the bush.

Apart from the five persons that were arrested, two other persons were said to have been hit by bullets and sustained bodily injuries during the shootout.

Confirming the release in a telephone chat on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said: “All the kidnap victims, five in all, have regained their freedom.

“They were released around Ikole Ekiti in the Ikole Local Government Area following efforts that we (police and another agencies) put up combing the bush. The pressure was much, so the kidnappers had to let them go.

“Efforts are still on to apprehend the kidnappers for prosecution to ensure safety of the people.

“We advise that people should be security conscious and make sure that they report all suspected faces around their environment to the security agencies especially the police.”