Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council
Development Area, LCDA, Kehinde Bamigbetan who was kidnapped last Monday has
been released by his captors.
Although
his abductors had reportedly demanded $1m (about N155m), it was not clear how
much ransom was paid to the kidnappers to effect the release. Sources said
however, that each of the 20 Local Government and 37 LCDA contributed money.
The
council chairman who was kidnapped near his house in Ejigbo around 11p.m. on
Monday returned home to his family around 11 p.m Saturday night.
Bamigbetan
was with his driver, Abiodun Olayiwola, in his black SUV with customised
registration number Lagos KOK when the gunmen waylaid him.
The
council boss was said to be on his way home from an official assignment when
the incident occurred. The matter has been reported at Ejigbo Police Station.
His SUV was badly damaged by an electric pole which stopped it while the driver
tried to escape from the gunmen.
His
driver, Olayiwola, who managed to escape with bruises all over his body, said
that they were ambushed by at least four gunmen a few metres away from
Bamigbetan’s house.
Acting
Police Public Relations Officer, Damascus Ozoani, when contacted however said
he was not aware that Bamgbetan had been released.
A
local government chairman in Lagos state who spoke to newsmen on condition of
anonymity, said he was not sure if Bamigbetan had been released.
“What
we heard was that he had been released but as I am talking to you, nobody is
sure. We are yet to see anybody to confirm that he or she had seen him,” he
said.
Another LG chairman however said he has been released. “What I
heard was that he had been released and had contacted his family members. But I
have not been able to get in touch with him.”