CURRENT REPORT BLOG Gunmen are Demanding the sum of N40m Ransom for Abducted Family of murdered Ekiti Monarch.
In a shocking incident that has gripped the community of Koro-Ekiti, located in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, unknown gunmen who tragically killed Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, the revered Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti, have now made contact with the bereaved family.
The assailants are demanding a hefty ransom of N40 million for the release of the late monarch’s wife and another family member who were abducted during the attack on the palace last Thursday.
This harrowing event has sent ripples of fear and uncertainty through the local community and beyond, highlighting the escalating security challenges in the region. Initially, the culprits had placed a staggering N100 million ransom on the three victims but have since lowered their demand to N40 million.
The incident unfolded when the gunmen stormed the palace, leading to the untimely death of Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole. In the chaos, his wife and two other family members were kidnapped. However, reports indicate that one of the abducted individuals was subsequently released due to their old age, leaving two in captivity.
In a bid to address this crisis and secure the release of the hostages, local authorities have been mobilized. Chief Kehinde Bayode, Chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) in Ekiti Local Government Council, revealed in discussions with reporters that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident in Eruku town on Sunday.
Attempts to contact Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, the Police Public Relations Officer at the State Police Command, for verification of the suspect’s arrest were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, information has been obtained indicating that Victor Olaiya, the Commissioner of Police for the state, has initiated the deployment of a specialized unit to Koro-Ekiti in partnership with various security bodies, aiming to apprehend the culprits and secure the release of the kidnapped individuals.
The council chairman, while speaking on how to secure their release, said that “the kidnappers had got in touch with the family demanding N100m ransom which has now been reduced to N40 million.”
“We are still negotiating with them and right now, I’m on my way to Koro to get the latest information on the negotiation. We will continue to brief you as the situation unfolds and we will keep you posted,” he added.
