•Gunmen
Seven local farmers abducted in the Itaogbolu axis of Akure North Local Government Area in Ondo State have regained freedom after spending five harrowing days in captivity.
The farmers were freed on Wednesday night, according to sources close to the victims, reports The Nation.
“It is true. They [farmers] have been set free and released to their families,” one of the sources told our correspondent this morning.
He revealed that the seven farmers were set free along a forest in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, after the abductors had collected a ransom of N5 million and food items.
“Some of them are now in the hospital where they’re receiving treatment due to the maltreatment they received while in the den of the kidnappers,” the source added.
Ayanlade Olayinka, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, was not immediately available for comment when contacted today.
A text message sent to his official lines to seek reaction was yet to be delivered as of the time of this report.
However, a security source in the State Police Command, who does not want to be identified, confirmed the release of farmers in a text message to our reporter.
The farmers were reportedly seized over the weekend while harvesting palm fruits on their farmland when the assailants struck.
Family sources had claimed that the kidnappers contacted them and asked for N100 million ransom for the release of the abductees.
In the midst of the negotiation with the victims’ families, the abductors reduced the ransom to N20 million.
Following the incident, operatives of the Amotekun Corps who were on a mission to rescue the farmers came under heavy attack in the hands of the marauders who opened fire and injured three officials.
