37 days after, kidnappers release APC Edo Assembly candidate

Thirty-seven days after he was abducted by a gang of gun toting goons, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Owan West Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Ohio Ezomo was during the weekend released by his kidnappers.

Ezomo who is running for the March 9 election was whisked away last January 24 at his home town of Eme Ora, Owan West local government area of the state by the daredevil hoodlums who shot his police orderly dead during the operation.

Persistent phone calls to Mr Frank Ilaboya, the chairman of the council were unanswered but the Edo State Police spokesman, Mr Chidi Nwanbuzor confirmed news of the release yesterday in the state capital of Benin.

He said that the ex-lawmaker who had a stint at the Edo State House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015 was let go of, unhurt by his kidnappers at a spot near Afuze, the headquarters of neighbouring Owan East local government area.

Nwanbuzor who spoke on his mobile phone said that he didn’t know if a ransom was paid by the frightened family to secure the release of the politician.

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The Edo State Police image maker however disclosed that the kidnappers may have let go of their quarry as a result of pressure from the police who were hot on their tails.

He said that the law enforcement agents were right on top of the situation and gave the hoodlums a close marking throughout the duration of the matter in a determined bid to secure his release.

The kidnappers had reportedly demanded a princely sum of N100 million from the family to effect the freedom of their prisoner but Nwanbuzor, an Assistant Superintendent of Police denied any knowledge of the payment of ransom money.

He added: “Ohio Ezomo who was taken away by unknown gunmen on January 24 has regained freedom. He was abandoned around Afuze. I don’t know if a ransom was paid. The police have been hot on the tail of the kidnappers. We gave them a close marking. I believe that is why they released him. He was released unhurt.”