Abductors reduce Ondo perm sec ransom to N20m

Peter Dada,

Akure

The abductors of the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Niran Ikuomola, have reduced the ransom placed on the victim to N20m.

Ikuomola, together with his driver, was kidnapped

in Kogi State on his way to Abuja for an official assignment on Sunday.

It was gathered that shortly after, the abductors called the family on the telephone and demanded for N70m ransom.

A source close to the family said on Thursday that the abductors had called the wife of the victim, Mrs. Omonike Ikuomola, to inform the family about the reduction of the ransom, adding that the family could not still raise the money.

He said, “The wife was contacted on the telephone again and they (abductors) reduced the money to N20m, the wife begged them to accept N2m, but the abductors rejected it.

“As I am talking to you now, the family has no way of raising the money.”

As of the time of filling this report, the permanent secretary was still in the kidnappers’ den as any agreement had not been reached on the ransom.

Meanwhile, the  Ondo State Governor,  Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, conveyed  an emergence meeting of the state Security Council to ensure the release of the abducted medical practitioner.

Akeredolu said the government was deeply concerned about the development, adding that  efforts were ongoing to secure Ikuomola’s  release.

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Harrison, who noted that the crime was not committed in her jurisdiction, said the police commands in both Ondo and Kogi states were making efforts to get the victims released.

As part of the measure to protect lives and property of the people in the state, the commissioner disclosed that the government had directed regular clearance of bushes across the three major expressways linking Ondo State with other neighbouring states.

She called on traditional rulers, caretaker chairmen and other stakeholders to implement the directive, saying clearing of the bushes would prevent criminals from having their ways.