Abducted traditional ruler’s wife killed despite N2m ransom

Abducted traditional ruler’s wife killed despite N2m ransom

The wife of Oba  Ayelomi, the traditional ruler of Lumure  Ayeka- Okitipupa in Ondo State, Dupe, who was kidnapped from her residence more than a week ago, was found dead despite payment of N2 million ransom for her release, our correspondent gathered yesterday.

Mrs Dupe Ayelomi, Daily Trust gathered, was abducted from her Erinje Road residence at Okitipupa area of Ondo State by unidentified gunmen.

Sources close to the family said the abductors demanded a ransom of N30 million for her release but the family was able to pay N2 million after  negotiations.

After the payment, the queen’s corpse was found at a roadside on Christmas Eve, the spot the abductors promised to drop her alive after collecting  the  ransom. She was in captivity for 10 days. 

Taye, one of her children, described the incident as devastating.

“We did not expect our aged mother to suffer any agony or die the way she did, this is really terrible,” he said, adding that “They have done their own, we leave everything to God.” 

The Divisional Police Officer, Okitipupa Division, Ifeanyi Ohuruzor,   said the corpse had been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy  at Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa. 

He said no suspect had been identified but police investigations into the incident continued, promising that the perpetrators would soon  be arrested and made to face the law.