Three days after the abduction of the traditional ruler of Iyasan, in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Abiodun Oyewumi, by unknown gunmen who invaded his palace, the kidnappers on Thursday demanded N40 million as ransom to secure the freedom of the monarch.
The monarch was kidnapped by some gunmen numbering 10, on Monday night, at his palace in Iyasan and whisked away to an unknown place.
According to a family source, the kidnappers on Wednesday night, contacted the first son of the monarch, Folarin, on Wednesday evening and opened negotiation with him, demanding N40 million as ransom.
The source said, “The abductors called Folarin and first asked the family to send a recharge card of N40,000 to enable them have enough airtime to negotiate with the family properly.
“The family sent recharge card to them, but it was not up to the amount they asked for, so shortly after the recharge card had been sent to them, they then called back and demanded for N40 million ransom.”
The source, however, said that the family could not afford the amount, but appealed to the monarch abductors to collect N500,000 from them, saying they could not afford the N40 million requested.
“The kidnappers rejected the N500,000 offered by the family and that was the end of their negotiation as at yesterday (Wednesday),” the source added.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, said the command was not relenting on its effort to set the monarch free, saying a search team has been put in place to nab the kidnappers and secure the release of the traditional ruler.
“We are working on it but it is a security matter so we cannot disclose the method we are using to get the kidnappers but I am very sure we will rescue the victim from the hands of the abductors,” the PPRO assured.
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