Kidnappers release timber merchants after N3m ransom

Osagie Otabor, Akure

Kidnappers have released the four timber merchants abducted last Saturday evening after collecting N3m ransom.

The four timber merchants were abducted at a border town between Ondo and Edo when their vehicle broke down.

A woman, who hawks cooked rice, was also abducted when she ran into them.

It was gathered that the ransom was paid by families of the victims after negotiating the ransom from N5m to N3m.

Sources said the four victims were reunited with their families on Monday morning.

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They were heading to a neighboring town from Akunnu Akoko to repair one of their timber lorries which broke down in the forest and were abducted.

The armed men dragged the four victims out of the vehicle and led them into the bush, while they contacted the families of the victims demanding for ransom.

One of the victims, identified as Samuel Obadofin was said to have described their experience as horrible.

Regent of Akunu Akoko,.Princess Tola Orogun, hailed the police and the military for ensuring safe release of the four victims even as she called for more men to be drafted to the area.

She urged the residents of the community to always share useful information with security agents that would lead to the arrest of the criminals in the area.