7th May, 2012
Kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N60 million to free a university lecturer, Dr. Mrs. Rukayat Olusola Otulana who was abducted on Friday at Agbowa, near Ikorodu, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.
It was learnt that the kidnappers initially demanded N100 million before Mrs. Otulana could regain her freedom.
But it was reduced to N60 million this morning after pleading by her family.
The family of the victim has described the incident as unfortunate and shocking. They pleaded with the abductors to release her forthwith.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS this morning, husband of the kidnapped medical doctor, Dr. Biodun Otulana, who is also the Chief Medical Director of Aje Clinic, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, disclosed that the kidnappers reduced their ransom from N100 million to N60 million this morning.
He said: “I spoke with the kidnappers and my wife this morning. Her abductors are hell bent on collecting the ransom. After much pleading, they reduced the ransom to N60 million.
“But where will I get such money? I am a medical doctor like my wife. I am not a politician, the children are worried. They have been asking where their mother was taken to since Friday.”
He told our correspondent that his wife was returning from Ikorodu on Friday where she had gone to perform an operation on a patient.
He added that the kidnappers laid ambush for her at Agbowa.
He said the police at Agbowa phoned to inform him of his wife’s abduction.
The victim is of the Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu.
The husband, Dr. Otulana is also a part time lecturer at the same university. Both of them are indigenes of Ijebu-Ode.
A family source, who does not want to be mentioned, said he is planning his wedding on Saturday, 2 June, 2012 and the victim is expected to chair the ceremony.
Family members who are close to her husband described Mrs. Otulana as a nice woman, a role model and a pillar of the family. They said she does not deserve the treatment meted out to her by her abductors.
The family called on security agents and the government to ensure the release of Mrs. Otulana soonest.
According to Dr. Otulana, when his wife spoke to him this morning, her voice showed that she was in good condition. But she pleaded with the family to raise the ransom so that she could regain her freedom.
She expressed her desire to reunite with her family soonest.
—Abiodun Onafuye, Ijebu-Ode