The nine surveyors who were kidnapped at a site in Ilu-Abo, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, have been released.
Confirming the development, Pastor Ajibade Owolanke, a brother to the Ejemikin of Akure, High Chief Oluwole Omotayo, said they were freed by their abductors Tuesday night after payment of N20 million ransom.
Owolanke said that the surveyors were at a secret location in Akure, the state capital.
They were kidnapped on Tuesday, March 4 by gunmen while working at the site in Ilu-Abo.
Thefrontrank reports that their release comes few hours after some residents of the state staged a peaceful protest in Akure over their abduction and security concerns in the state.
The Tuesday’s demonstration was a day after reports emerged that four communities in the same local government area had been attacked by gunmen, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people.
The affected communities — Aba Alajido, Aba Sunday, Aba Pastor, and Ademekun — were reportedly targeted by armed men suspected to be bandits.
