Ondo kidnappers demand N2m ransom from victim’s family

The abductors of a commercial driver, Mr Felix Akinde, who was kidnapped on the Akure-Ado Ekiti Expressway, have contacted his family and demanded N2m as ransom for his release.

Akinde, who is said to be a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Ekiti State, was kidnapped at a spot on the road near the NYSC farm at Ita-Ogbolu, headquarters of the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State on Tuesday while travelling in a Toyota Privia vehicle and was whisked to an unknown destination.

It was gathered that the hoodlums contacted the victim’s family through Akinde’s boss and asked for N5m ransom.

Mr. Adedeji Adeyemi, who owns the bus which the victim was driving, spoke with journalists on the telephone in Akure on Thursday, saying the kidnappers contacted him on the telephone.

He explained that the kidnappers initially demanded N5m to secure the freedom of his driver, but it was later reduced to N2m.

“The abductors contacted me on Wednesday. They even allowed me to speak with him (Akinde) for a few minutes before they cut the line off,” Adeyemi stated.

He, however, said the abductors called him early on Thursday and reduced the ransom to N2m, but had not said anything after that.

Adeyemi also confirmed that the driver was the only one abducted by the hoodlums as he stated that the incident happened around 5am on Tuesday after the driver left Ado Ekiti for Akure around 4.30am.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman, NURTW, Ondo State, Akure/Ado Ekiti Unit, Mr Tayo Olorunmaye, said Akinde was coming to Akure from Ado Ekiti to convey passengers to Onitsha when the abduction took place.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Femi Joseph, said men of the command had swung into action and gave an assurance that the bandits would soon be arrested.

Copyright PUNCH.