Female Lecturer, family regain freedom from kidnappers
A female University Lecturer in Ondo State and members of her family yesterday regained freedom from the captivity of kidnappers, after spending not less than three days in their den.
The University Don, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ayimoro, her husband, Dr Gabriel, their children, Oluwajomiloju, Oluwadarasimi, Mrs Ruth Obi and their granddaughter, Uche Obi were allegedly kidnapped a few kilometres from Obajana in Kogi State while returning to Akungba, Ondo State from an Abuja trip.
It was gathered that the family had travelled to Abuja to visit a relation who just retired from active service when they were accosted on the road, by no fewer than four men, in camouflage Army uniforms and driven straight into a forest.
Relating, their ordeal to neighbours in her Ayegunle- Oka community in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, the University lecturer explained that the kidnappers brutalised them, after which they asked for a ransom of N5m if they wanted to regain their freedom.
“As we were on our journey back home from the Abuja trip, after stopping sightseeing at the Dangote cement plant in Obajana, the men stopped our car, we thought they were military men deployed to provide security on that road due to the porous security network in Kogi State, where criminal tendencies, have been on the prowl, in the last couple of years” Mrs Ayimoro, pointed out.
She added that she was released by the kidnappers to raise the N5m ransom, they requested, but that she only succeeded in getting, a million Naira and had to beg them to collect the money from her and they obliged.
The woman explained further that after sending the money to the Kidnappers, through one of her younger brothers, Seyi, at a location along Kabba, Kogi State and Omuo in Ekiti State, three days after their kidnap, their captors, called her around 7.00 pm.
“They instructed me to meet my family at Isua Akoko along Ipele in Owo Local Government, Ondo State and on getting there, truly, I saw them, with my son, Oluwajomiloju, very ill. They however warned me that if I should report the matter to the Police or any security agency, I should not expect to see my family alive.” Mrs Ayimoro noted with fear.
“After our release, some unknown men visited our residence twice and the last time they came, they dropped a message for me, with our neighbours, telling them that they were searching for me and my family because they learnt on good authority, that I have reported them to security agents, who are now after them” she further said.
The University Lecturer added, “Up till now, they keep threatening us. They told me that since I have allegedly reported the case to security operatives they would trace me to where l work, as they have all information about me and my place of work and deal with us as they dealt with the woman whose husband they killed at Ikare, Ondo State, a couple of months ago”
Mrs Ayimoro explained further that with the series of threats, she and her family have been living in fear, sleeping in Churches and friends’ houses.
