Just in: Gunmen kidnap WAEC official, demand N20m ransom

Just in: Gunmen kidnap WAEC official, demand N20m ransom

Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped a member of staff of the West African Examination Council, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, and three other unidentified persons in Ondo State.

The incident, our correspondent gathered, took place at Oba Akoko on the Owo-Ikare Road in the Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state.

An eyewitness said Adebayo, who works in the Akure office of WAEC, was in his car with his son, who is a student of the  Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko and another friend, when the incident happened.

“The gunmen stopped him (Adebayo) and other motorists on the road, but his friend and his son were able to escape by running into the bush,” the eyewitness added.

According him, the gunmen forced Adebayo and three others into another vehicle and headed for an unknown destination.

A relative of the WAEC official disclosed that the kidnappers had called to demand a ransom of N20m.

 He said the bandits got in touch with Adebayo’s boss in Akure and threatened to kill their victim if the ransom was not paid.

Our correspondent learnt that although Adebayo’s boss pleaded for time to raise N1.2m for his release, he was rebuffed by the kidnappers, who insisted that the money should not be less than the sum they demanded.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo, Mr Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said the command had begun investigations into the incident.

He vowed that the police would do everything possible to ensure that the victims were released unhurt.