EKITI: Kidnappers demand N20m ransom for monarch

AFTER four days in their clutches, abductors of the Obadu of Ilemeso-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba David Oyewumi, have contacted his relatives to demand ransom.

The abductors are demanding N20million as ransom for the release of the monarch.
A family source confided in newsmen in Ado Ekiti today that the abductors contacted them two days ago.

Oba Oyewumi was abducted right inside his palace by gunmen numbering six who kept shooting repeatedly to scare those in the neighbourhood while the operation lasted.

“We have been contacted. They called us around 7.03 pm on Saturday and demanded that we pay a sum of N20 million for the king to be released.

“We are really worried by this demand. The family is taking further steps to ensure that Kabiyesi is released as soon as possible,” the source said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, ASP Sunday Abutu, said the police and other security agencies are making frantic efforts to rescue the monarch from captivity.

Abutu said: “We are taking all security measures to ensure that we rescue the Oba. We are not resting at all.

“We are working with other sister agencies in this regard and also working on intelligence gathering we have at our disposal.

“The police want to work more to prevent this kind of crime and we are relying on information from the members of the public because we work more on the information we found to be veracious.

“We appeal to members of the public to help us with information. Let them report any strange face or suspected person to the police. We assure you that the police will protect the identities of such informants”.

Oba Oyewumi’s abduction came barely a week after the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, Oba Adetutu Ajayi, was waylaid and shot by gunmen, though he escaped with gunshot injuries.