A traditional chief in Ijan-Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Chief Emmanuel Obafemi and two cocoa merchants have been freed by kidnappers after paying N4 million ransom.
They were said to have been released along Ikere Road around 3:00 a.m. yesterday and had been reunited with their families.
Obafemi was abducted on his farm located along Ado-Ijan Road last Thursday and taken to an unknown destination.
The two cocoa merchants, who are residents of a farmstead called Ilupeju-Ijan, were picked up on Saturday along Ijan-Ise Road.
A family source confided in reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday that Obafemi paid the sum of N2 million before being let off the hook.
“I confirm to you that Chief Obafemi paid N2 million while the two other cocoa merchants paid another N2 million before they were released around 3:00 a.m. yesterday.”
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the release of the abductees, saying they had since been rejoined with their families.
“They were released around 3:00 this morning. They are now with their families safe and sound.
“But let me say that the release was as a result of the hard work put up by the combined forces of police, Amotekun Corps and local hunters, who combed the forests in search of the abductees.”
