Kidnappers reduce ransom on Kwara monarch’s wife, other to N40m

The gunmen who killed a traditional ruler and kidnapped his wife and one other person in Kwara State have reduced the N100 million ransom placed on the abducted victims to N40 million.

The traditional ruler, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, the Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, was murdered in his palace last Thursday, February 1, 2024.

His wife and another person were also abducted by the assailants.

It was gathered that the gunmen, on Sunday, February 4, reached out to the late monarch’s family for a N100 million ransom payment.

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, the Chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Kehinde Bayode, also said a suspect has been apprehended in connection with the killing of the monarch.

He said the suspect was arrested in Eruku town in the Ekiti LGA on Sunday.

Gunmen kill Kwara monarch, abduct wife

While speaking on efforts made to free the abducted wife of the traditional ruler and the other person, Bayode said: “The kidnappers had got in touch with the family.

“They were demanding N100 million ransom, which has now been reduced to N40 million.

“But we are still negotiating with them and right now, I’m on my way to Koro to get the latest information on the negotiation.

“We will continue to brief you (journalists) as the situation unfolds and we will keep you posted.”

However, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, did not confirm the arrest of any suspect.

Ejire-Adeyemi said no arrest had been made in connection with the incident.

She said: “The Commissioner of Police has deployed a tactical team to Koro-Ekiti to fish out the perpetrators.

“Policemen are working with other security agencies to free those that were abducted during the kidnapping incident.

“No arrest has been made yet. We are going to keep you abreast of developments as they unfold.”