The Ondo Anglican priest, Rev. Canon Olowolagba, his wife, and two children, who were abducted on Sunday, have been released.
The details of their release at the time of filing this report were sketchy.
The kidnappers had earlier demanded a ransom of N75m.
The Anglican priest and his family members were abducted along the Ise Akoko-Iboropa road in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He hails from Ikaram-Akoko.
Bishop of Akoko Anglican Diocese, Rev. Babajide Bada, who confirmed the incident, said it happened last Sunday between 4 pm and 5:30 pm.
“The man involved is Reverend Olowolagba. He was travelling from Ipesi, with his wife, Mrs Olowolagba, and their 16-year-old daughter, Goodness Olowolagba, a 100-level student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko (AAUA), who came for holiday at home, and a nine-year-old girl staying with them, identified as Idowu.
“They drove from Ipesi through Isua Akoko. And when they got between Isua and Ise-Akoko, they were kidnapped. And we didn’t know, until the following morning, when their members discovered that they didn’t get to Ikaram where they were going. And they were not also at home.
“Since then, those who kidnapped them have been calling. They called to ask for N75million ransom. And we said that’s very unreasonable. Later, they said N10million. But when we’d gathered some money to go and secure their release, they changed to N15million. That’s why the reverend and the wife, including the two children are still there.”
Ondo police spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omilani, said no report of such an incident was made.
“We do not have such a story, nothing of such was reported,” she said
