Edo IPMAN boss regains freedom after 11-day captivity
Ransom paid in Kaduna, victim released in Edo
Eleven days after he was abducted at gunpoint in front of his house in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, the Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (iPMAN), Benin Depot, Alhaji Abdul-Hamid Egele, popularly known as, Baba Petrol, has regained his freedom.
A competent family source, who confirmed the release of the IPMAN on Thursday evening said that Baba Petrol’s abductors released him after collecting a ransom of N70 million.
Egele, it would be recalled, was kidnapped in the evening of Monday, February 7, 2022, in front of his house, while returning from work.
In the process of his abduction, two persons were killed by the gunmen, who intercepted the petrol dealer’s convoy at about 7 pm.
The family source, who would not want to be named, added that the most curious aspect of the abduction saga was the fact that the ransom was paid in far away Kaduna State, while his abductors released the victim in an undisclosed location in Edo State.
“He was released yesterday morning after a ransom of N70 million was paid in Kaduna. As we speak, he is in an undisclosed hospital in Benin receiving treatment”, the source volunteered.
The abductors had six days ago demanded N80 million before he would be released.
While the Edo Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Bello Kontongs, could not be reached for his comment as at the time of filing this report, another top police officer in the command, who spoke on the development, said the command was yet to be formally informed about the release.
