Kidnapped Ondo couple regains freedom

A couple kidnapped last week along Akure-Uso-Owo road in Ondo State have regained their freedom.

The couple were said to be travelling from Ebonyi State to Akure, Ondo when they ran into the kidnappers between Uso and Owo.

The kidnappers had demanded N10m ransom to free the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Gbenga Ibikunle.

• #EndSARS: Lagos police stations still in ruins as operatives battle rising insecurity
• Gunmen attack Ebonyi police station, kill 3 officers

The state police command said a combined team of security operatives including military personnel, Civil Defence Corps and Amotekun Corps were mobilised to comb the forest and rescue the victims.

The command’s spokesman, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, said: “We heard they were asking for N20 million ransom, but we are not interested in that. We rescued the couple and we are going to get the perpetrators.”

In a related development, a traveller who was abducted last week in the state has been released.

The man, who was abducted along Ise-Isua-Akoko road, was identified as a Pastor from Ekiti State.

He was said to be travelling from Abuja with his driver when they ran into the kidnappers. They killed the driver.

Sources said following his release, he was dropped off at lkakumo in Akoko-Edo area of Edo state before he was handed over to the police in Ikare-Akoko.