By Nicholas Ojo
No fewer than three suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction of Jumoke, wife of an ex-military administrator of Bauchi and Osun, Col Theophilus Bamigboye (rtd).
Col Theophilus Bamigboye had earlier confirmed paying ransom to secure the release of his wife, Jumoke Bamigboye, who was kidnapped by gunmen.
Mrs Bamigboye, who was kidnapped at Eiyenkorin, a suburb of Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, was released on Monday night by her abductors.
Mrs Bamigboye, a Magistrate and member of Rotary Club International, was returning from her farm in Ilorin’s Oko-Olowo region, where she had gone to monitor garri processing for some clients, when she was abducted by the gunmen.
The gunmen later contacted the victim’s family, demanding a ransom of N100 million.
“The victim’s release was later negotiated downward to N50m as at Monday evening,” a source told Leadership.
Confirming the release of his wife on Tuesday, Col Bamigboye said that his wife was kidnapped by gunmen at Oko-Olowo.
“She was returning from the farm on Saturday evening when gunmen waylaid and forced her out of the car. They took her away to an unknown destination. They later got in contact and demanded for ransom to be paid before her release”, he said.
He added that she was released on Monday night but after the payment of ransom, which he didn’t disclose.
“She was set free and released last night. We thank God for her safety but not without payment of ransom,” he said.
Bamigboye said that his wife had been taken to the hospital for medical attention after her release from the den of the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said three suspects had been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Mrs Bamigboye.
Okasanmi was however silent on whether a ransom was paid to the kidnappers before she was released.
“Yes, she has been released and three suspects were arrested and effort to get the remaining suspects is underway,” Okasanmi said.