Kidnappers abduct Ogun monarch, demand N200m ransom

Kidnappers have abducted a first-class traditional ruler, Oba Tajudeen Omotayo of Imope in ljebu area of Ogun State, placing a demand of N200 million as ransom fir his release.

The Oba was abducted by some gunmen who laid an ambush for his vehicle on Saturday (March 20, 2021) at a community near ijẹbu-Igbo while returning to Imope after a visit to Ijebu-Ode.

Quoting sources, PSN reported that the traditional ruler was immediately taken into the bush by the abductors.

A wife of the Oba, Adesola Omotato in an interview with BBC Yoruba, confirmed that the gunmen had contacted the family.

They reportedly did so with the phone of the traditional ruler.

She, however, lamented that the royal family could not raise the N200 million ransom and appealed to Ogun State Government to intervene without further delay.

Meanwhile, Ogun Police Command has said it is still searching for the traditional ruler who was abducted by gunmen on Saturday.

Spokesperson of the Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said that operatives from relevant units had been drafted to Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu North local government area to rescue the monarch but had neither located the abductee nor the abductors.

Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the “search-and-rescue task” by the operatives would continue until the captive is rescued unhurt.