RELEASED VICTIMS: (UPDATED) OAU lecturer, ex-CMD, Ekiti nurses, others regain freedom

Ten persons, including an 11-year-old boy, kidnapped in Ekiti State a month ago were at the early hours of Saturday released by their captors, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. They include Dr Folasade Alade, Dr Femi Omisore, Dr Kikielomo Adegun and a nurse, Margret Aladeneka. The victims, who were kidnapped at different locations within the state, included two lecturers at the Ekiti State University. A family member of one of the victims, Mrs Nike Aina, told NAN that the victims were released after their families had paid some undisclosed ransom. She said they were dropped at a bush in the Esure Ekiti area of the state. Also, a brother of one of the victims, Pastor Tokunbo Olofin, said, “My sister called me around 7am on Saturday, telling me they had been released. “She used one of the villagers phone to call. We have seen them, we thank God for his faithfulness.” He told NAN that the victims havd been taken to hospitals for treatment by their families after the Police had arrived at the scene. Olofin added that the police advised them to wait for the arrival of the state governor, Ayodele Fayose, but the relations could not as they hurriedly took them to hospitals for examination. ————————————————————————————————————————————— A lecturer of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, Dr. Femi Omisore, who was kidnapped in Ekiti State about two weeks ago, has been rescued in the early hours of Saturday. He was reportedly rescued alongside nine others, including three other nurses. It was gathered that the victims were rescued by vigilantes at Esure Ekiti, who subsequently took the rescued victims to the palace of the Elesure of Esure Ekiti. A family source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, and the Chairman of Academic Staff of Union of Universities, OAU chapter, Dr. Caleb Aborisade, confirmed Omisore’s rescue. Though they could not ascertain if the perpetrators were arrested. Aborisade, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, said, “Yes, he has been rescued.” Omisore was abducted on his way to a funeral ceremony at Oye Ekiti in penultimate Saturday. He is a lecturer in the Department of Environmental Design Management of OAU. Apart from Omisore that was abducted, his driver was killed and his car burnt. The reason for the kidnap of the lecturer had earlier been trailed by controversy, especially among students and other sympathisers. Some believed that the lecturer was kidnapped because he is a relation of the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the 2014 election, Senator Iyiola Omisore. Others, especially a segment of his family, are of the opinion that Omisore was set-up by some of his colleagues that he had issues with. Describing his kidnap, an eyewitness said, “A car was trailing him and his driver tried to escape but he was caught. The driver tried so much to avoid being overtaken by the unknown men but it was painful that he did not succeed. They eventually killed him.”