Kidnappers of Ekiti Chief Demand N20m Ransom

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The kidnappers, who abducted a traditional Chief, Emmanuel Obafemi in Ijan Ekiti, Gbonyin Local government area of Ekiti State last week have demanded a sum of N20 million for the man to regain freedom.
Obafemi was kidnapped on his farm located along Ado-Ijan road last week and had since been in captivity.
This came as gunmen abducted two persons, including a cocoa merchant and motorcyclist on Christmas day in Ijan-Ekiti, Gbonyin local government area, of Ekiti State. Also, the Sum Pyem of Gindri, in Mangu Local Government Areal, of Plateau, Charles Mato, has been abducted. The traditional ruler was kidnapped by gunmen yesterday.
A family source revealed to journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the kidnappers of the traditional Chief contacted the family early on Sunday and made the request .
“We have been contacted today and what they were asking for is a sum of N20m for our brother to regain freedom.
“We are completely confused because we don’t know how to raise such amount of money. Though with the way the gunmen spoke, there could be negotiation so that the ransom can be reduced”.
On the two persons that were kidnapped, sources in the community, said the two victims who were on a motorbike, were said to have been ambushed by the gunmen around 5:30 pm on Saturday.
The source, who identified one of the victims as a cocoa merchant while the other as commercial motorcyclist popularly called okada said they were returning to Ijan from Ilupeju before they were seized by the kidnappers.
He added that the abductors were yet to contact the family for possible ransom as of Sunday evening.
The Amotekun corps commander in Ekiti, Brig Gen. Joe Komolafe (rtd), who confirmed the abduction, said his operatives are combining the adjoining forest for possible rescue of the victims.
“We heard about the latest incident on Christmas day and I can tell you that we have commenced operation to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators, ” he said.
Meanwhile, the Sum Pyem of Gindri, in Mangu Local Government Areal, of Plateau, has been abducted. The traditional ruler was kidnapped by gunmen yesterday. Media Officer of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Ishaku Takwa, confirmed the abduction.
OPSH is the military task force maintaining peace in the state.
Takwa said Mato was kidnapped from his residence at Gindiri.
He said troops of the task force had been mobilised to the area to conduct search and rescue.
“Troops of OPSH at Gyambus in Mangu have been mobilised to the area,’’ Takwa said. He said the security operatives are on the trail of the kidnappers.