Nine surveyors abducted last week in Ilu-Abo, a community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State about a week ago have been released after the payment of ₦20 million ransom.
The surveyors were abducted while working on site when the abductors swopped on them. Subsequently, the abductors demanded ₦100 million ransom before the victims could be released.
It was gathered that market women pleaded with the kidnappers to reduce the ransom to ₦50m but they initially rejected the offer.
A High Chief in the Akure kingdom, Oluwole Omotayo, confirmed their release in a telephone conversation with our Correspondent in Akure.
He said that all the victims were in good health, adding that they have since been reunited with their family members.
On Tuesday, some residents of Akure, mostly market women staged a peaceful protest at the Government House appealing to the governor, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the security agencies in the state to address the challenge of insecurity in Akure North and other parts of the state.
They particularly asked for the release of the surveyors as their relatives could not afford the ransom demanded by their abductors.
