The kidnappers of Mrs. Monisola Margaret Olaoye, a senior director in the Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue, have demanded a ransom of N50 million.
Mrs. Olaoye was abducted along with her driver on Thursday evening by gunmen in Ore while traveling to Lagos for a private function. Her kidnappers, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, subsequently took the victims into the thick forest along the expressway.
A source told SaharaReporters by phone that Mrs. Olaoye is a senior director in charge of "PAYE-C" at the Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue.
The source, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the kidnappers have contacted Mrs. Olaoye’s family members and made a demand for ransom.
"The kidnappers are asking the family of Mrs. Olaoye to N50 million as ransom before they can release her and her driver," he said.
He explained that Mrs. Olaoye was in the company of her children, possibly traveling to Lagos for a religious program at Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Christ Embassy when she was abducted.
"The gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, blocked the road, stopped many vehicles traveling and searched many passengers. They even shot dead a driver in one of the commercial vehicles for attempting to drive through the impediment they placed across the road,” he said.
He added that Mrs. Olaoye's vehicle was next to that of the driver that was shot dead. Immediately the kidnappers got to her, he further stated, they asked her and her driver out of the vehicle.
"Immediately, the kidnappers took Mrs. Olaoye and the driver into the forest and left the young children on the road. It was some people that contacted the Board of Internal Revenue to say that she had been kidnapped and her children left on the road," the source told SaharaReporters.
He explained that her office immediately sent a team to take the children, who were moved to Owo town where they are currently staying with their family.
Mr. Femi Joseph, the spokesman of the Ondo State Police Command, could not be reached to confirm the abduction. But a Mobile Police source confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters via the telephone.
"One of our colleagues patrolling the highway around the toll gate told us about the incident and I am sure efforts are being made to rescue the victims," said the Mobile Police source.
Last Thursday, Mr. Olumide Odimayo , a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, was abducted at his Igbotu residence in Ese-Odo Local Government Area. He was, however, found dead on Monday.
