Kidnappers demand N50m for Ondo commissioner’s mother
By Ayodeji Moradeyo


October 20, 2010 03:23AM
  print  email   




The kidnappers of Pege Esther Wewe, the mother of the Ondo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, have placed a N50 million ransom on her before she can be set free from their captivity.

Also abducted by the unknown gunmen is 12-year-old Rachael Lawrence, who is said to be a relative of the commissioner. Mrs Pege Wewe and Rachael Lawrence were said to be kidnapped at Sabomi area of Ese-odo Local Government of the state on Friday, October 15.


The kidnapers, numbering ten, were said to have stormed Sabomi in the night and ferried their captives to an unknown destination where phone calls were put through to the commissioner for culture.

The commissioner, Tola Wewe, is currently working closely with the police to secure the release of the captives. The spokesperson of the state police command, Adeniran Aremu, said the command was making concerted efforts at ensuring that the kidnappers are arrested.

Mr Aremu pointed out that the police would do everything to ensure that the captives regained their freedom, stressing that “whoever is connected with this unwholesome act will be made to face the wrath of the law”.

“The Ondo State Police command condemns in strong terms the barbaric attitude of the miscreants behind the kidnapping. The state commissioner of police, Ballah Magaji Nasarawa, assured members of the public of adequate security and that the command will apprehend the people behind the dastardly act,” he said.

Sheer wickedness

He urged members of the public with useful information that could help track down the criminals to forward the same to the state police command.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State government has described the action of the kidnappers as the height of inhuman action and depth of human wickedness.

The state Commissioner for Information, Ranti Akerele, said it was sheer wickedness for some people to have kidnapped a 81-year-old woman from the comfort of her home. “The government of Ondo State condemns the action with all the vehemence at its disposal and we are leaving no stone unturned to secure the release of the woman who incidentally is the mother of a high ranking state official.

“The moment we learnt about it, government began to take necessary steps but until the woman is eventually released, we cannot judge our intervention as fruitful yet. But we are working in conjunction with security agencies in order not to jeopardise the safety of the captives.

“I want to say, however, that Ondo State is not a haven of criminality although we are a Niger Delta state; such things would not be allowed to thrive here.

“We want to tell the miscreants behind this occurrence that such enterprise will not find any place here, as government is ready to protect all law-abiding citizens and put the weight of the law on offenders


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5632463-146/kidnappers_demand_n50m_for_ondo_commissioners.csp