JUST IN: Owo businessman, wife, daughter regain freedom

A well-known businessman in Owo, Mr. Tope Faji, also known as Jaja, has regained his freedom along with his wife, Faji Nireti, and their youngest daughter, Zainab, after being held captive for nearly a week.

As reported by The Hope, the family was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen outside their residence on Ipele Road in Owo, Ondo State. 

Their release followed intense negotiations with the abductors, who had initially demanded a higher ransom.

A source, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed that the kidnappers collected N17 million before setting the family free. 

“They were released after paying N17 million. Right now, they are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo because they were badly treated by their captors,” the source stated.

Recalling the events leading up to the abduction, the source mentioned that they had all been together earlier that day. 

“We were at his wife’s shop in the afternoon, talking and playing before we went our separate ways. Later that night, I got a call from one of his sons saying his father, mother, and sister had been taken. We immediately rushed to their house,” the source explained.

One of Mr. Faji’s sons was present when the attack happened but managed to escape. 

“He had stepped out of the car to open the gate when the kidnappers struck. He barely escaped while they took the rest of his family,” the source added.

The abductors had initially demanded N30 million but later reduced it to N20 million before settling for N17 million. The incident has heightened security concerns in Owo, with residents urging the authorities to intensify efforts in combating kidnapping and ensuring the safety of citizens.