Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, who killed the Olukoro of Koro in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Segun Aremu-Cole, who had earlier placed the payment of N100 million for the release of the deceased’s wife and another victim, whisked away during the incident, had reportedly reduced the ransom to N40 million.
The late Oba Aremu-Cole was shot dead at his palace in Koro town last Thursday night after his return from a security meeting at Osi, the headquarters of Ekiti council by some suspected kidnappers, who invaded the palace.
Since then, the state police command had swung into action in a bid to arrest the suspected kidnappers.
The police and other security agencies had also taken over the town to ensure peace while efforts to arrest the culprits were ongoing.
THISDAY learnt, weekend, that the suspected kidnappers had reached out to the family of the late monarch through a beer parlour operator in the community.
It was further learnt that, the kidnappers freed one of the abductees, an 87-year-old man on account of old age.
A source, who sought anonymity told THISDAY that the kidnappers got the telephone number of the beer parlour operator from his female staff, who was also abducted on the fateful day.
However, Chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) of the Ekiti council, Mr Kayode Bayode, who spoke with newsmen at the weekend confirmed that the kidnappers had placed N100m ransom on the late monarch’s wife.
“Yes, they have contacted the family demanding for N100m ransom before they will release them.
“But we are still on the issue for now. That is all what I can say for now. Though there is still panic in the community, the heavy presence of security men has helped to calm the situation.”
Latest reports have showed an alleged reduction in the ransom.
Reacting to the development, the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged the security agencies to fish out those that killed the Oba and kidnapped his wife.
In a statement in Ilorin and personally signed, he said he was profoundly shocked and grief-stricken by the tragedy.
Also, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), weekend, joined stakeholders in the state to call for the arrest of the killers and the immediate release of his wife and others abducted.
The PDP, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Mr. Olusegun Adewara, urged the security agencies in the state to brace up for the protection of the residents of the state saying that the insecurity in the state in the past few months have becoming alarming and uncalled for.
Meanwhile, a leading pro-democracy group, Kwara Must Change, has hailed the deceased Oba, who reportedly resisted kidnappers attempt to abduct him in his palace until he breathed his last in the struggle against the kidnappers.
In a statement by its convener, Comrade Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group said that, “Kwara State government must immortalise the late monarch and make him the symbol of resistance in the struggle against banditry”.
