Kidnappers of the players of Enyimba, Dayo Ojo and Benjamin Iluyomade of Abia Comets have made a demand of N20m ransom for their release.
Recall that the players were abducted on the Benin-Akure Expressway, at Ipele in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Sunday evening on their way to Akure, the state capital.
The former players of Sunshine Stars were on holiday following a break in the Nigeria Professional Football League due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
A family source disclosed that the kidnappers had contacted the families of the footballers shortly after they were kidnapped, demanding a sum of N100m.
However, the source said they later reduced their demand to N20m on Monday.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Tee-Leo Ikoro, who had earlier confirmed the rescue of one of the players that was kidnapped on Sunday, said the men of the command were still working hard to ensure the release of the victims unhurt.
The PPRO said, “Already our men are on the trail of the hoodlums. Very soon they would be arrested.”
The PUNCH reports further that Enyimba on Monday also confirmed the kidnap of Ojo.
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The club, in a statement, said, “Enyimba has since maintained close contact with Ojo’s family, as efforts are already in place to ensure the player’s release from his abductors.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has appealed to the kidnappers to release the footballers.
NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, said Ojo and Iluyomade’s kidnap and the death of two Rangers players, Ifeanyi George and Emmanuel Ogbu in an accident in Owa, Edo State along Benin-Agbor Road on Sunday, “were huge causes for concern in Nigeria’s football firmament.
“We also earnestly appeal to the kidnappers of Dayo and Benjamin to release them unhurt to their families. “We are going through too much at the same time, with the coronavirus pandemic also around. We need serious prayers from everyone in the football family.
“We must all get involved in prayers to Him to stop the tap of grief and sorrow in our football sector.
“I am heartbroken. Not long ago, we lost Tiamiyu Kazeem of Remo Stars and Chineme Martins of Nasarawa United in different circumstances. We need to call on God to show us mercy and stop these unfortunate happenings,” he said.
