By our reporter
In a dramatic turn of events, armed men who abducted the Ward 5 Chairman, Mr Nelson Adepoyigi, of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ose Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, South-West Nigeria, and grabbed the N5 million ransom paid for his release, have equally held onto two persons sent to deliver the ransom to them.
In a classic case of greed, the abductors, obviously having tasted the aroma of the successful ransom-taking, apparently developed a bigger appetite and are now demanding the sum of N30 million as additional ransom to free the trio.
Both captured ransom bearers were identified as Mr. Isimeri and Mr. Bayode Loco.
Pandemonium gripped Ifon community on Monday, about 10pm, when gunmen kidnapped Adepoyigi, manhandling him in the process in their bid to abduct the APC chieftain, who reportedly put up brave resistance.
They then whisked him to an unknown destination.
When the dust and confusion from the movie-like incident cleared, his kidnappers reached his family and political allies, demanding a princely sum of N100million in order to release him.
However, sources said, tough negotiations led to a slashing of the amount to N5million alongside full complement of foodstuffs to be handed to the abductors.
Drama restarted when after taking delivery of the N5 million and food items, the kidnappers quickly changed their mind and demanded an extra N30 million to set the three men free, reigniting fears among family, friends and political associates of the Ward Chairman over his safety.
“Those who took the ransom to them as agreed during negotiations, were held by the same kidnappers.
“They have now turned around to demand a fresh N30 million before they can release all three of them,” a source recounted the latest development.
Speaking on the matter, Chairman of Ose LGA, Kolapo Oja, disclosed that an earlier negotiation with the abductors saw a downward review of the N100 million ransom to N5 million inclusive of food items.
The LGA boss urged general calm over the matter as security personnel were hot on the heels of the criminal gang.
