Unknown gunmen have released a popular philanthropist and petrol dealer in Ekiti State, Alhaji Suleiman Akinbami.
Naija News had reported that Akinbami was abducted on Sunday, January 10, 2021, within the premises of his filling station along Ado-Ijan Ekiti road.
The businessman was kidnapped by a gang of four, who whisked him away in his Toyota Jeep to an unknown destination. His captors had demanded millions of naira for his release.
But in a statement on Sunday by the Ekiti State Police Command, the petrol dealer was released around 3pm on January 17, 2021, a week after his kidnap.
According to the Spokesman of the command, ASP Sunday Abutu, no ransom was paid to secure the release of the businessmanAkinbami.
Abutu stated that the businessman was rescued through the concerted efforts of the police, hunters, and Amotekun operatives in the state. He added that Akinbami had reunited with his family.
However, a source close to the Akinbami refuted the statement credited to the police that no ransom was paid.
The source said: “The man paid ransom before he was released. His issue is not about the money paid, we thank God that he came back alive to meet his family. Alhaji Akinbami is a philanthropist who had helped so many people. We thank God he came back safe and sound”.