Gunmen Kidnap 8 In Ekiti, Demand N50m Ransom
Eight people were allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday in Itapaji Ekiti in the same council area, just a week after four people were kidnapped at Ayebode in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The kidnappers allegedly contacted the family early on Wednesday morning and demanded N50 million in ransom.
On Wednesday, an eyewitness told media in Ado Ekiti that the gunmen had stormed a house in the town about 9.30 p.m., shot randomly into the air, and made off with eight of the building’s residents.
The residents of the community were stated to be horrified by the gunshots, which lasted over an hour.
According to the report, the building’s owner was preparing for his mother’s burial, and the preparations were in full swing when the wicked men struck.
“The men numbering seven came around 9.30pm with guns and surrounded the building. They fired gunshots sporadically.
“As the occupants of the house were coming out, they were grabbed and made to lie face down. They were later taken away into the bush. They were 14 initially, but six of them escaped into the bush”.
He added further: “Earlier today (Wednesday), one of the family members received a call from the abductors demanding for a ransom of N50m”, he said.
The source added that absence of police stations in Itapaji -Ayebode and Irele-Oke Ako axis was responsible for the increasing cases of kidnapping in the area, saying the nearest police station is in Ikole Ekiti, which was over 40 minutes drive to the troubled spots.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident.
Abutu said: “The command is working on that. Already, a special police operatives as well as the JTF have been deployed in that axis to ensure they rescue the victims and for possible arrest of the culprits”.
