Twenty-two days after he was kidnapped by armed men in Ora, Osun State, the Vice Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area, Mr Debo Farounbi, remains in captivity.
Farounbi was reportedly abducted around 10pm on June 9 in Ora, a border community located along the Osun-Kwara boundary. The gunmen, suspected to be bandits, initially seized him alongside three other individuals.
The Punch reported that the military personnel and local vigilantes stationed in the area engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to abandon three of the victims while escaping with Farounbi.
A family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, told The Punch on Tuesday that the kidnappers contacted Farounbi’s family a few days after the incident and demanded N200m for his release.
Another family member, who also requested anonymity, disclosed that prolonged negotiations had led to a reduction in the ransom demand to N50m.
“It is true that they (abductors) demanded N200m. They used his mobile phone to call his family.
“But after days of negotiating, the amount has been reduced to N50m, but his family are still running around to raise the money.
“There was a day the abductors took pictures of him and sent them to his relatives to put pressure on them. There is growing concern over his state of health.
“But as of 7pm today (Tuesday), he has not been released. I don’t even think there are any search and rescue efforts again from the security agencies,” the family source said.
Reacting to the development, the Osun State Police Command said efforts were still ongoing to secure Farounbi’s release.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that the command had no knowledge of any ransom negotiations between the victim’s family and the kidnappers.
Ojelabi further revealed that two suspects were apprehended in a forest shortly after the abduction and subsequently charged to court.
“We are still working within the information available to us to see to the safe rescue of the victim.
“Two people were arrested inside the forest after the abduction, and after our investigation, we charged them in court.
“The court has since remanded them to the correctional centre. We are working hard to rescue the victim,” Ojelabi said.
