Ibadan cocoa farmers held captive now freed, alleged abductors taken into custody

Adeola Badru reports that the two cocoa farmers who were still being held captive after a visit to the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan on Saturday have now been freed, thanks to a joint operation by security agencies, which brings the total number of rescued individuals to four.

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This development comes after police authorities had earlier secured the release of two other victims and apprehended three suspects in connection with the abduction within 24 hours of the incident.

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The kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of N100 million before the victims were eventually rescued, according to sources.

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In a telephone interview, Oluyole Local Government Chairman Akeem Olatunji confirmed that all the abducted farmers have now been freed, attributing the successful rescue to the collaborative efforts of multiple security agencies.

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These agencies included the Police, the Directorate of State Services, the Western Security Network, also known as Amotekun, and local vigilante groups in Oluyole, which all worked together to secure the release of the victims.

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Chairman Olatunji also revealed that the rescue team has handed the freed victims over to the police, and that the operation was coordinated by Fatai Owoseni, the Security Adviser to the Oyo State Governor and a retired Commissioner of Police.

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Olatunji expressed his gratitude to the security operatives for their collective efforts and reassured residents of his commitment to continued collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property in the area.