Police Rescue Journalist After Abductors Demand N30m Ransom

Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have rescued a journalist, Oduneye Oluwaseun, from his abductors, 72 hours after being kidnapped by gunmen in the Ijebu Ode area of the state.

Oduneye, who is the publisher of Issues Magazine in the state, was abducted in his Toyota Camry car at the Mobalufon area of Ijebu Ode while returning home from a trip to Abeokuta, the state capital last Thursday  at 7: 50pm.

He was, however, rescued unhurt on Saturday after the kidnappers had engaged the security operatives in a gun battle that lasted about 45 minutes in Idimu axis of Egbeda local government area of Lagos State.

The command’s public relations officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident to newsmen yesterdayy, said Oduneye’s abductors had on Friday through the victim’s GSM hand phone, established contact with the journalist’s wife wherein they demanded for N30 million ransom before they would release him.

But acting upon the report lodged with the police by his wife, the state commissioner of police, Mr. Frank Mba, ordered the divisional police officer (DPO) at Obalende, Ijebu Ode, Murphy Salami  to ensure the safe release of Oduneye from the claws of his abductors.

“In compliance with the CP’s directive, the DPO mobilised his detectives and embarked on a technical and intelligence based investigation of the incident. Their efforts paid off when the Toyota Camry of the victim was traced to Idimu area of Lagos, where the kidnappers were hibernating, waiting for the ransom.”