Ten [10] persons kidnapped by gunmen, demand N100m ransom
A farmer, identified as Femi Alawiye and nine of his workers have been abducted by suspected kidnappers in Ondo State.
According to reports, the farmer and his workers were kidnapped on Saturday on a farm at Ayede-Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area of the State.
The man was said to have rushed down to the farm on the fateful day after receiving a call that the farm was on fire.
But upon his arrival at the farm, a source said he was attacked and kidnapped alongside his workers.
“On Saturday in the late evening, Alawiye was called on the phone that his farm was on fire, he quickly rushed to the farm. On getting to the farm, the gunmen suddenly appeared and whisked them away,” the source said.
A family source, who pleaded anonymity, said that the kidnappers have contacted the farmer’s family and demanded a ransom of N100 million, but the sum, after negotiation, has been reduced to N10 million.
“The family was called on the phone a few hours after the abduction to demand for N100 million.
“They threatened that failure to produce the money, we may not see them again. Five of the workers were released later,” the source explained.
“After negotiating with the kidnappers, they reduced the ransom to N10 million. But the family is yet to raise the money.
“That is where we are now. As I am speaking with you, all of them are still in the den of the kidnappers,” the source added.
The police spokesperson in the State, Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the incident, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims unhurt.
