The Ekiti State Police Command has confirmed the release of the four farmers abducted from a farm settlement at Ikosu Ekiti in the Moba Local Government Area of state Monday evening.
The PUNCH reported that the four men were released on Friday evening after spending four nights with the gunmen who had on Tuesday, according to sources, contacted the authorities of the farm settlement and demanded a N50million ransom.
A source said, “I can tell you that they have been released. They are back to their families. But I do not know whether any ransom was paid by the settlement or families. All I can say is that when the kidnappers demanded ransom which was N50 million initially before it was reduced to N3million, people were making moves to pay.
“But remember a suspected kidnapper, believed to be among the gunmen, was arrested in the week. It is possible the suspect was the one that gave the security agencies the clue, it is also possible they were released after payment of ransom, all I can say is that they are back home,” the source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu, in a ‘Press Statement’ confirmed the release of the victims.
Abutu said, “The four farmers kidnapped in Ikosun Ekiti on Monday have all regained their freedom from their abductors at about 1800hours on Friday after conscious and relentless efforts by the Police, the Amotekun and the local hunters.
“They have all been reunited with their family members while the security operatives are still on the trail of the kidnappers for possible arrest.”
