Unknown gunmen who kidnapped the traditional ruler of Ilemosho-Ekiti, in Oye Local Government of Ekiti State, Oba David Adegboyega Oyewumi have demanded N20m as ransom before the monarch will be released.
A family member who spoke to newsmen on Monday revealed that the kidnappers contacted them on Saturday to make the demand.
“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.
It will be recalled that Naija News reported the Obadu of Ilemosho was abducted around 8:30pm last week Thursday after meeting with his chiefs in his palace.
According to a source, the gunmen laid siege on the palace along Isan-Ekiti when the chiefs who had earlier visited the place had left.
The source said the kidnappers gained access into the palace through the fence, fired shots into the air, and whisked away Oba Adegboyega.
Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, ASP Sunday Abutu, said the Police is collaborating with other security agencies to ensure the safe return of the traditional ruler.
He further urged members of the public with relevant information to speak up, assuring that their identity will be protected and their safety guaranteed.
“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,” Abutu said.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State police command has arrested fifteen suspects for allegedly killing 706 cows and 75 sheep in the Atiyap chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the suspects dumped the animals in a ditch after the incident.
The spokesman of the command, ASP Muhammad Jalige, in a statement released, said the crime was “perpetrated by agents of doom in their quest to set the State ablaze”.