Prominent petroleum dealer, Suleiman Akinbami, who was recently abducted in Ekiti state, has been released by his abductors after spending eight days in captivity.
Akinbami was whisked away by unknown gunmen last Sunday at one of his filling stations along Ado-Ijan-Ikare in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.
Read Also: Police Confirm Kidnap Of Prominent Ekiti Petroleum Dealer, Suleiman Akinbami
Few days later, the kidnappers, according to a family source, demanded N60m ransom from his family.
The source said;
You know our man was kidnapped on Sunday night in a very dramatic way and very late on Tuesday night, we got a call from them asking us to pay N60 million if we are to see him. We pleaded with them to reduce the amount and we are yet to hear from them since then.
However, the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Abutu has now confirmed that the victim was released at about 2pm on Sunday around a remote area in Kogi State.
Abutu added that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the business tycoon, saying it was as a result of concerted efforts of the police, hunters and Amotekun corps.
He stressed;
The man had reunited with his family. We assure the general public that we will get him out unhurt the very day he was kidnapped and that was exactly what we did.
However, according to TheNation, a source close to Akinbami’s family said the man paid ransom running into millions, which was raised by combined efforts of the victim’s family, friends and business associates.
Another source close to the victim said Akinbami paid millions of naira to regain his freedom.
The source added,
The man paid ransom before he was released. His issue is not about the money paid, we thank God that he came back alive to meet his family.
Alhaji Akinbami is a philanthropist who had helped so many people. We thank God he came back safe and sound.
