The family of an Ogun State businesswoman, Olayinka Oremade, is living in fear after kidnappers allegedly seized her and one of her workers and demanded a staggering N100m for their release.
Olayinka Oremade and her staff member were reportedly abducted on Friday, August 14, after gunmen ambushed their vehicle around the Alapako/Oyebola area of the state.
The victims were said to have been returning from a farm where Oremade had gone to create content for her business when the attackers struck.
Recounting the terrifying ordeal, her son, Oremade Ilerioluwa, said the kidnappers blocked the vehicle from the front, forcing his mother to reverse in an attempt to escape.
But the gang had apparently planned their attack.
According to him, three more gunmen suddenly appeared behind the vehicle and opened fire, shooting out the rear tyres and leaving the car stranded in the bush.
With their escape route blocked, the occupants reportedly abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot.
Two staff members managed to escape, but Oremade and another worker were caught by the kidnappers.
The family was alerted by the survivors and other people familiar with the incident, including a surveyor.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, while the family also visited the Ajebo police station to seek updates on the rescue operation.
Although security operatives searched the area, the abductors and their victims could not be located.
The abandoned vehicle was reportedly recovered, while the escaped workers were questioned by the police.
Then came the chilling ransom demand.
The kidnappers reportedly contacted the family on Saturday night and demanded N200m for the victims’ freedom.
The family pleaded with them to reduce the amount, insisting that such a huge sum was beyond their means.
After days of negotiations, the kidnappers reportedly slashed the demand to N100m on Wednesday.
Ilerioluwa said his family still could not raise the money.
During one of the calls, he said, he was able to speak directly with his mother.
Oremade reportedly urged her son to seek financial help from relatives and others who could assist in raising the ransom.
Meanwhile, local hunters have joined the search for the two abducted women, but their whereabouts remained unknown at the time of the report.
The prolonged ordeal has left the family emotionally shattered.
Oremade’s other son described the past few days as unbearable, saying the family wakes up each morning hoping to see their mother return home, only to be met with more uncertainty.
He said every incoming phone call has become frightening because the family does not know whether it will bring good or bad news.
The distraught son appealed to anyone with the means, information or influence to help secure his mother’s release.
He said Oremade was not only his mother but also a wife, friend and a loved one whose absence had left the entire family devastated.
The family is now calling on the police and the Ogun State and Federal Governments to step up the rescue operation, stressing that they simply cannot afford the N100m ransom allegedly demanded by the kidnappers.
“We are appealing to the police to put more resources into the case and rescue the two women because we cannot raise the ransom being demanded.
“We also want the government to intervene, intensify the search and track down the kidnappers. All we want is for our mother and the other victim to come home safely.”
Don’t Miss Out! Join our WhatsApp Channel for instant news updates. Click here to join
ALSO READ:
Ogun kidnap: Police arrest officers demanding money to track kidnapper’s phone
