Abductors release Osun farmers, others held

Samuel Oladotun and Fashola Tobiloba said to be members of Baptist Church and abducted by unknown gunmen along Oke Osun Area, Ileogbo in Osun State last Wednesday while returning from their farms have been released.

Sources said they were released alongside one other person, said to be a driver, late on Tuesday after a sum of N6 million ransom was paid to their abductors.

However, it was learnt that the elder brother of one of the victims and a community leader that also went with the team that took the ransom to a community in Kwara state were still being held by the abductors.

The PUNCH reports that three people sent to deliver the ransom to the abductors on Monday were held by the gunmen after collecting the money.

The perpetrators were said to have made fresh demand of N24 million before all the five people in their custody would be released.

Details of how those released regained freedom were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report.

A family source, who pleaded anonymity, however, confirmed their release, adding that they have been reunited with their families in Iwo.

The Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed their release in a chat with our correspondent.

“They have been released. We will brief you later. Thanks,” Opalola said.

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