Kidnapped Ondo Anglican priest, wife, children regain freedom
By Jeffrey Agbo
Anglican priest, Canon Olowolagba, his wife and two children have regained freedom after nearly one week in the hands of their captors.
The family was taken captive on Sunday, December 22, along Ise Akoko-Iboropa road in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Explaining the delay in ensuring their release, Bishop of Akoko Anglican Diocese, Babajide Bada, earlier said the kidnappers raised their demand to N75 million.
Bada said, “The unfortunate incident happened on Sunday between 4 pm and 5:30 pm. The man involved is Reverend Olowolagba. He was travelling from Ipesi with his wife, Mrs Olowolagba, and their 16-year-old daughter, Goodness Olowolagba, a 100-level student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko, who came for a holiday, and a nine-year-old girl staying with them, identified as Idowu.
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“They drove from Ipesi through Isua Akoko; they were kidnapped between Isua and Ise-Akoko. We did not know about the incident until the following morning when their members discovered that they didn’t get to Ikaram, where they were going, as they were not also at home.
“Since then, those who kidnapped them have been calling. They earlier called to ask for N10m, but when we gathered some money to give to them, they changed the amount to N75m. That is why the victims are still in captivity.”
However, the family was released by their captors late Saturday.
Commander of Ondo Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed that the family had regained their freedom.
“The pastor and family have been released,” Adeleye said.
