Abductors of ex-commissioner’s mother demand N50m ransom

Abductors of the 80-year-old mother of former Commissioner for Education in Ondo State, Mrs. Olufunke Olatubora, have demanded N50 million before the octogenarian could secure her freedom.
A source, who confirmed the development, said the kidnappers opened discussion with members of the victim’s family on Monday night. He, however, lamented that the family could not afford the ransom. The source said: “The kidnappers have started discussing with the family.
The amount they are demanding is too much “There is no way we can raise such a huge sum now. We are after the wellbeing of our mother. They should be humane enough to release her” Speaking through a telephone interview, the former commissioner expressed optimism that the abductors would soon release his mother.
He, however, failed to disclose whether he had established contacts with the kidnappers. He said: “We believe that the kidnappers will release her soon”
The former commissioner, a lawyer, was also in the legal team that defended Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s suit at the just concluded Ondo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
It will be recall that the 80-year-old woman was on Sunday morning kidnapped by about six gunmen at her Iyansan home in the coastal area of Irele Local Government Area of the state.
The gunmen invaded the woman’s residence, dragged her into a waiting boat and sped off. The other occupants of the house were alerted by the wailing of the aged woman.
The occupants said the kidnappers were not distracted by the noise by the younger wife of the victim’s husband. The woman was said to have retreated when she saw the armed hefty men leading her senior colleague away.
But the police spokesman, Mr. Wole Ogodo, has reassured the Olatubora’s family that security agents would soon secure the release of their aged mother.
Ogodo told journalists in Akure that detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department had initiated move to secure the victim’s release.
He also expressed confidence that the kidnappers would be arrested.