The individuals responsible for the abduction of Joseph Aladesuyi, who serves as the secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area (LCDA) within Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, have contacted his family, demanding a ransom of ₦100 million for his safe return.
According to a family source, the kidnappers initiated contact with the family via a telephone call around 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday. During this call, they presented their demand and reportedly left no room for negotiation.
Aladesuyi, who is also the Managing Director of Jotina Farms, was taken on Monday morning from his poultry farm, along with two other individuals. The incident occurred in the Kajola area of Ilu-Abo community, Akure North Local Government Area, close to the Akure Airport.
Speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the situation, a family member described the past 24 hours as a period of intense anxiety for the family. This concern is heightened by the fact that the council secretary sustained a gunshot wound to his hand during the invasion of his farm.
“They (kidnappers) called this morning. They asked us to bring ₦100 million before they would release him. They spoke very shortly and hastily during the call, and they did not even allow us to say much.
“We have been very worried since yesterday, but the call has given us hope. We are still expecting that they will call because the money is a whole lot. How do we raise that amount as a family?
“Our concern is more about his health at the moment because we were made to understand that when they (kidnappers) arrived on the farm, he was shot in one of his hands while they were dragging him,” the family source stated.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, had previously announced that the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has directed the deployment of all available operational and intelligence resources to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of the suspects.
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