The Caretaker Chairman, Iganna Local Council Development Area of Oyo State, Mr Olayiwola Adeleke, who was kidnapped alongside his driver, has regained freedom.
The duo were abducted on Sunday night and their freedom came six days after.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Saturday.
He said, “They have been released and reunited with their families. They were freed on Friday night.”
However, the PPRO was silent on how they regained freedom and if a ransom was paid to their abductors.
But some members of vigilance groups told our correspondent that N5m was paid before the abductors freed them.
One of the sources told our correspondent that some government officials raised N5m to secure the release of the council boss, who they said was the main target of the kidnappers.
The source said, “The ‘honourables’ raised N5m and the money was paid before the gunmen took the chairman and his driver to a place where he walked to the main road. They first asked for a ransom of N200m but the people reduced it.’’
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Chucks Enwonwu, on Wednesday said the police were making efforts to rescue them.
The CP had earlier in the week lauded the hunters and other vigilance groups whom he said the police called upon when two persons were kidnapped during the #EndSARS protest. He said they moved for the rescue of the abducted persons immediately and arrested three of the criminals.
PUNCH