Kidnappers of lyaloja in Ondo demand N5m ransom

The abductors of market women leader, the lyaloja of Isua, Akoko South East council area of Ondo state, Chief Hellen Edward have reduced the N11m ransom earlier demanded to N5 million.

She was leading a delegation of market women to their monthly meeting in Akure, the state capital when 16 traders and others were abducted over the weekend along the Akure-Owo highway.

Spokesman for the State Police command, Tee Leo Ikoro told Daily Trust yesterday that ten of the women were rescued while five are still in the kidnappers’ den.

Ikoro also said four of the kidnappers have been arrested.

But some family members of the victims said the kidnappers had contacted them requesting for eleven million to secure the release of the victims.

The money, a family source said, was later reduced to N5 million by the kidnappers.

Mrs Alaba, one of Chief Edward’s children, told newsmen that her mother spoke to family members and urged them to look for the ransom to secure her release.

She, however, said the N5m ransom was too much for the poor families to pay.

The state police spokesperson said police officers and other security agencies were combing the forest to secure release of the victims.