My kidnappers demanded N20m ransom —Freed Ekiti INEC secretary

THE Administrative Secretary,  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State, Mr Muslim Omoleke, who regained his freedom Friday night after spending a day in kidnappers’ den on Sunday, said his abductors demanded for a N20 million ransom.

Omoleke, who shared his experience with family members and some journalists at his residence in Ile-Ife, Osun State, said he told the kidnappers that there was no way his family could raise N20 million because they were poor.

He disclosed that his abduction was a coincidence because he was not the target of the kidnappers, saying he was taken hostage by some unemployed youths.

Omoleke, however, described his ordeal as traumatic, lamenting that the 24 hours he spent in the kidnappers’ den was characterised by fear of being killed by his abductors.

According to him, “I was on my way from Akure to Ile-Ife. We stopped on the road at Iwaraja to offload my daughter’s luggage when they (kidnappers) came to us. Initially, they were two, later they became about seven and many of them were armed.

“They released my daughter and my driver, but took me to an unknown place inside the bush. I was not maltreated. It is only the movement from one place to another that was stressful.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank the Nigeria Police for the wonderful job they did. I didn’t pay any ransom before I was released. They demanded 20 million, but I told them we are poor in my family and I am a civil servant.

“I was the only person there. I think the pressure was too much on them; they said they were not comfortable keeping me. The first day, there was nothing, but the second day, they gave me rice and water which I could not eat,” Omoleke remarked.