A fish farmer, said to be a retired Deputy Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service, kidnaped last Thursday in Kwara state, has been released by his abductors.

It is recalled that the fish farmer was abducted on his farm at Oke Jia, Egbejila, along with Obate village in the Asa local government area, when the attackers, who reportedly trekked to the farm with dangerous weapons such as Ak47, “took the man away by trekking through the bush”.

According to a close source of the retired Customs officer, the kidnap victim was released on Monday night and was said to be recuperating in a private hospital from experience suffered from the abduction.

Although it was not clear how much was eventually paid as ransom, the source said the abductors had initially demanded N10m, which was later negotiated to N6m.

An earlier statement by the PPRO on the development said that the retired Deputy Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service was kidnapped on his farm located at Oke Jia, Egbejila, at about 1730hrs on January 6, 2022, by some unknown gunmen speaking a particular Nigerian language.

On the visit to the scene after the incident by the command’s operatives, four empty shells of expended ammunition were recovered.

Meanwhile, four people kidnaped along Obbo Ayegunle/Osi road in the Ekiti local government area of the state last week, including a mechanic, Sunday Balogun, his pregnant wife; Mary, his apprentices, Taiye and Kehinde, are yet to be freed by their abductors, except the wife.

Speaking on the incident, a close member of the family, Mrs. Laoye Seyifunmi said that the kidnappers abandoned Sunday’s vehicle at the roadside after the incident.

Another close family source, who does not want his name in print said that the kidnappers have contacted the family demanding for N10million ransom.

“They have contacted the family, demanding a N10 million ransom. We have been able to negotiate it to N4 million.

“Although the family and community had been able to gather N2 million, they rejected it and said that a Toyota Sienna in his workshop should be sold to pay the ransom.

A top security official confirmed the incident, saying that the wife of the mechanic, Mary, has been freed.