After spending 11 days in captivity, Babalola Tejumade, a sister to Babalola Sunkanmi, a lawmaker who represents Egbeda Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly has been released.
The lawmaker announced in an SMS he sent to some journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State capital Saturday morning that his sister has been released by her abductors.
Sunkanmi said no ransom was paid before his sister could be released.
“I want to inform you that she has been freed. She regained her freedom this morning around 6 am,” his message reads.
“But, no ransom was paid.”
How She Was Abducted
Tejumade was abducted on Monday, December 21, 2020, while returning home on a commercial bike around Monatan area of Ibadan.
She was ambushed by three gunmen in a Toyota vehicle and reportedly shot sporadically in the air for some moments before driving off after forcing her into their vehicle.
Three days after the abduction, Olugbenga Fadeyi, Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, said he was unaware of the abduction. He noted that the Police Station in the area had been burnt.
“I am not aware of the incident. It has not been reported to the police. You know that there is no way they can report to the police because the police station in the area has been burnt,” Fadeyi said.
However, 24 hours later, the PPRO confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen.
He noted that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident and efforts were ongoing to secure her release.
“One Jumoke Babalola Oludele ‘f’ age 35 yrs that was kidnapped while returning from her shop by unknown armed men, one suspect arrested after the anti-kidnapping squad of the Oyo Police Command swung into action,” Fadeyi wrote in the statement.
“The suspect is currently being quizzed to obtain useful information. Effort intensified to rescue the hostage and also to arrest the culprits.”
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