Abducted Ekiti retiree freed after N4.5m ransom -Family

The retired civil servant, Chief Israel Bamisaye, whisked away by gunmen from his farm at Orin Ekiti in the Ido/Osi Council area of Ekiti State on Wednesday was set free on Friday night.

A family source said on Saturday that the retiree was not released until the relatives had coughed out N4.5million for him to regain his freedom.

Bamisaye was abducted by about seven gunmen on his farm located between Ero Dam and the Ekiti State farm settlement in Orin Ekiti.

The source said, “The pharmacist paid N4.5million ransom. The initial demand was N10 million, but it was negotiated to that level”.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed that the man was released at 10pm on Friday, however, said that the police were not aware of the payment of any ransom.

Abutu said, “He was freed at Obbo Ayegunle in Kwara State. The efforts of our men and the local hunters as well as Amotekun operatives who were inside the bush searching for him for over 27 hours before he was located paid off.

“Our people would have to be security conscious. That is the first thing to do to get rid of criminals. They should also give the police and other security agencies good information that we can work with, we can’t do it alone”, he said.

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