By Banji Ayoola
Sade, wife of the Chief of Staff to Ondo State Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale, who was kidnapped on Thursday, has been freed.
Her husband confirmed her release to The Radiance at exactly 1 pm on Saturday.
Her freedom was also confirmed by the police spokesman in the state, Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro who told The Radiance in a telephone interview that Mrs Ale was rescued by a combined effort of the police and the military together with other security agencies.
He said that immediately her abduction was communicated to the state police command, the State Police Commissioner, Mr Bolaji Salami “ordered all the divisions around” Owena area, scene of the crime, to ensure that she is rescued soonest.
Asked whether any ransom was paid to secure her release, he said that “ no ransom was paid.”
Also, the State Commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, according to ThisDay, confirmed her release.
It was learnt that men of the State Security Agency, Amotekun Corps, in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups were part of the combined rescue efforts.
Men of the Amotekun Corps were said to have teamed up with local hunters and vigilante groups in the area to trace the perpetrators of the crime in a commendable synergy that yielded a fruitful and rewarding result early Saturday morning.
Some suspects held in connection with the crime have been transferred to the state capital, Akure for interrogation, it was also learnt.
Commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye who, according to that newspaper, confirmed Mrs. Ale’s release, said it was too early to disclose how the woman was rescued.
Mrs Ale was kidnapped at Owena on Thursday night by bandits who had laid a siege on the highway and taken her into the forest.
She was abducted barely 24 hours after a first class traditional ruler, the Olufon of lfon, in Ifon Local Government Area of the state, Oba Isreal Adewusi, was killed by gunmen.
The woman was said to be returning from Lagos to Akure when she was abducted.
Police spokesman in the state, Leo lkoro, had confirmed the abduction saying: “she was abducted at Owena and the commissioner of police has instructed police officers in the division to start combing the forest.”
