…After Three Days In Captivity
By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The wife of a one-time military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states; retired Col. Theophilus Bamgboye, Mrs Jumoke Bamgboye, who was kidnapped at the weekend has regained freedom.
The erstwhile first lady; Mrs Bamigboye, who was released on Monday night, was kidnapped on Saturday in Oko Olowo, an outskirt of Ilorin, in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Mrs. Bamgboye, a judicial officer in Kwara State and a member of Rotary Club International, was said to have been abducted by some unknown gunmen on her way from her husband’s farm on Saturday.
Sources said that she was returning home after supervising the processing of a huge quantity of gaari her company git a contract to supply to customers on the day she was abducted.
It was added that her abductors demanded for a ransom of N100 million before her release, which was later negotiated downward to N50 million as at Monday evening. It could not, however, be ascertained that the amount was paid in full or slashed downward, before her release was secured.
Her husband, Col. Bamigboye, who confirmed the incident when contacted by newsmen in Ilorin, corroborared the earlier accounts that his wife was kidnapped by gunmen while returning from the farm on Saturday.
He said, “She was returning from the farm on Saturday evening when gunmen waylaid and forced her out of the car. They took her away to an unknown destination. They later got in contact and demanded for ransom to be paid before her release.”
However, while confirming her release on Tuesday, Bamigboye said she was released on Monday night, but not after the payment of a ransom, the amount which he did not disclose.
He added, “She was set free and released last night, we thank God for her safety, but not without payment of ransom.”
The former milad further disclosed that his wife had been taken to the hospital for medical attention after her release from the hands of the kidnappers.
In his reactions to the incident, the Kwara State Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ajayi Okasanmi, SP also confirmed the abduction and release of the former First Lady, saying, “She was released by the kidnappers”.
Okasanmi disclosed that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the kidnap of Mrs Bamigboye, but he was however silent on whether any ransom was paid to the kidnappers before the release.
Okasanmi said, “Yes, she has been released, three
suspects were arrested and efforts to get the remaining suspects are underway, please.” L
Meanwhile, friends, neighbours and sympathizers of the former governor had been flooding the Ilorin GRA residence of Col. Bamgboye to rejoice with the family on the safe release of his wife.
Monarch of Col. Bamgboye’s country home, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, his chiefs and Oloris were part of the sympathizers seen at his GRA residence, while he was also seen receiving unending far and wide telephone calls apparently from eminent people, who were congratulating him on the safe return of his wife.
