Christmas Day saw the kidnapping of two men by suspected bandits in Ijan-Ekiti, Ekiti’s Gbonyino Local Government Area.
In the late afternoon of Saturday, the two victims riding motorcycles were allegedly kidnapped.
They kidnapped a cocoa merchant known as Ajankoro and the motorcyclist who was transporting him from Ilupeju-Ijan to Ijan, Ekiti, and took them to an unknown location, according to reports.
ASP A spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, said he had not been informed of the development when contacted.
Once he had confirmed the report, he pledged to speak to the media about it.
Some suspected gunmen who abducted a traditional chief in Ijan-Ekiti, the Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Thursday, have now demanded N20 million to free him.
Emmanuel Obafemi, Odolofin of Ijan-Ekiti, a traditional chief, and the victim were kidnapped only 72 hours earlier, according to NAN.
That’s what kidnappers demanded from a family member who requested anonymity, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“They have called to ask for this huge amount of money before they can set him free, the amount is so exorbitant, and we don’t know how to source the fund.
“We only pleaded for his safe release from their den. It’s still a sad Christmas for us, as the breadwinner of our family has been taken to an unknown destination and his whereabouts cannot be ascertained,” the source said.
According to Brig.-Gen. Joe Komolafe (retired), the Commandant of Amotekun Corps in Ekiti State, the abductors’ ransom demands were not made known to him when he was contacted about the development.
He stated his men are working around the clock to guarantee that the victim gets released unharmed.
“I’m not aware of ransom demanded by the bandits, all I know is that our men have been deployed to the areas where we suspected the gunmen might have used as their hideout,” he said.
Residents were urged by Komolafe to come forward with information that could lead to the capture of the bandits.