Abducted Ondo monarch’s wife, daughters regain freedom

Almost a week in the den of kidnappers, the abducted members of the family of a traditional ruler of Odigbo town in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo state, Oba Rufus Akinrimade, have been set free.

The monarch’s wife, Mrs Regina Akinrinmade, his daughters Precious and Mercy Akinrinmade and his driver, Lateef Abayomi were abducted by some unknown gunmen on the Owo-Ikare Expressway, at Oba Akoko town in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state, last Saturday.

Shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the monarch, demanding a ransom of N100 million but the money was later reduced to N60 million.

The monarch, while speaking to journalists in his palace, confirmed that the victims had been released and had been reunited with their families.

However, he did not confirm if a ransom was paid before the release of the victims was secured.

The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Femi Joseph, also confirmed the development, saying the men of the command were still after the hoodlums

“The victims have been released but we are not relenting, our men would arrest all the hoodlums very soon. We are after them in the bush,” Joseph stated.