Seven days after they were abducted by gunmen on Benin-Ijebu Ode Road, along with their driver, two Reverend sisters, Perpetual Apo and Roseline Familade, with their driver Zwugwa Zibai, Sunday, May 22, 2016 regained their freedom.
The trio were abducted on May 15, 2016, by gunmen at Kajola village in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State while travelling to Ogun State for a programme. Their abductors had demanded for a ransom of N20 million.
The police public relations office for Ondo State Command, Mr. Femi Joseph, who disclosed the release of the three persons said the victims were in good health condition.
The PPRO, who did not disclose the details of how the victims were released, said they were rescued by a team of police in the state and men of the intelligence squad sent from Abuja by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.
“All I can say for now is that the Reverend Sisters and their driver have been rescued by our men and the intelligence squad sent by the IG from Abuja.
“We are still on the trail of the suspects and we will soon arrest them because we are presently combing the area where we rescued the sisters. They quickly abandoned the victims when they discovered that we were closer to where they hid them,” he said.
The police spokesman insisted that no ransom was paid for the release of the Catholic nuns and their driver.
Reacting to this unfortunate incident, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Bishop Jude Arogundade, has called on the government and other stakeholders in the country to take the issue of security of lives and property of the citizens more seriously.
Arogundade said it is the duty of everyone to make Nigeria a safe place for all to live.
