Kidnappers release abducted lecturer, three-year-old in Oyo

Mr. Amidu Sarafadeen, a lecturer at the Federal College of Education (FCE) Special, Oyo, and the three-year-old child who was kidnapped on Friday have reclaimed their freedom.

The two were kidnapped in the early hours of Friday at 2nd Low Cost, Offa Meta, Atiba Local Government of Oyo. They are neighbours who live in separate apartments.

It was learned that the incident took place on Friday at 12:30 am while the families were asleep.

A member of the institution’s employees who spoke with newsmen on Sunday stated that the two were freed after a ransom was paid in an undisclosed sum of money.

He said, “They have been released, they were released on Saturday after some money have been paid. The lecturer, Mr. Amidu Sarafadeen, and the 3-year-old toddler are neighbours. Their houses are beside each other.

“It is the same area but different houses. They were kidnapped on Friday.

“You have to write this even though they have been released so as to create awareness of what we are facing. The lecturer lectures at the School of Arts at the Federal College of Education, Special. The toddler’s father is Mr. Santos. The two of them have been released on Saturday.”

Another staff of the institution said that the abductors demanded the sum of N6 million as ransom.

“The staff is our academic staff of the Department of Arabic language, Mr Sharafadeen Amidu. They demanded N6m but I don’t know how much the family was finally able to raise. But he has been released on Friday night barely 24 hours to his abduction,” he said.

A police officer, who asked not to be named, confirmed the release to newsmen on Sunday.

He, however, said that the incident was not officially reported to the institution.

But, all efforts made by newsmen to get a reaction from the school management proved to be abortive.

All the officers whose numbers were gotten from the institution’s website said that they were not authorised to speak on the matter.

Efforts to get a response from the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Adewale Osifeso also proved to be abortive.