Kidnappers who abducted a businesswoman, Olayinka Oremade, in the Alapako/Oyebola area of Ogun State have reportedly reduced their ransom demand from N200m to N100m.
Oremade was allegedly kidnapped alongside one of her staff members on Friday, August 14, after armed men attacked their vehicle while they were returning from a farm.
The victim’s son, Oremade Ilerioluwa, who spoke with our correspondent, said his mother had gone to the farm to create content for her business when she was ambushed on her way back.
According to him, four gunmen suddenly appeared in front of the vehicle, prompting his mother to reverse in an attempt to escape.
He said three other members of the gang emerged from behind the vehicle and shot at the rear tyres, leaving the car immobilised inside the bush.
Ilerioluwa explained that the occupants were forced to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot, adding that two staff members managed to escape while his mother and another employee were captured.
He said the family was informed about the incident by the workers who escaped, as well as a surveyor who was reportedly with them.
According to him, the family reported the matter to the police the following day and visited the Ajebo Police Station, which is closest to the scene of the incident.
He said the police informed them that officers had searched the area without locating the victims, although the abandoned vehicle was recovered and the two escaped staff members were taken in for questioning.
The victim’s son said the suspected kidnappers subsequently contacted the family on Saturday night and demanded N200m for the release of the two women.
He said the family pleaded with the abductors to reduce the ransom, but the gang maintained its demand before eventually reducing it to N100m on Wednesday.
Ilerioluwa said the family had continued negotiating with the kidnappers but could not afford the amount being demanded.
He added that he was able to speak with his mother during one of the calls, saying she pleaded with him to seek financial assistance from relatives to secure her freedom.
He further disclosed that local hunters had joined the search for the two abducted women, but their efforts had yet to yield any breakthrough.
Meanwhile, another son of the victim, whose name was not disclosed, described the past few days as devastating for the family.
He appealed to the government, security agencies and members of the public to intervene and help secure his mother’s safe return.
The family also called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Ogun State Government to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the victims, stressing that they were unable to raise the N100m ransom allegedly demanded by the kidnappers.
Multiple calls and text messages were sent to the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, seeking the command’s reaction to the incident and an update on the rescue efforts, but he had not responded as of the time of filing this report.