Nigeria Content Online

The joy of the
families of the Ondo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Tola
Wewe knew no bounds yesterday as the octogenarian mother of the
commissioner, Pege Wewe and her grand-daughter, Rachael Lawrence, were
freed from suspected militants.

The freedom came about nine days after the duo were abducted at Sabomi area of Ese-Odo Local government area of the state.

NEXT gathered that the women, who were ferried out of Ese-Odo Local government, regained their freedom in Sapele, Delta State.

The rescue of the
women was made possible when the people of Sapele community noticed the
movement of strange faces in their community.

The community
raised alarm and reported the case to the police in Sapele division who
responded to the distress call and rescued the woman and her grand
daughter although the kidnappers escaped from the scene. Police in the
Sapele Police division later handed the victims to the men of the Ondo
State Police Command in Akure.

Spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, Adeniran Aremu, said the old woman was released in good condition .

Mr Aremu, who noted
that the command had earlier arrested two suspects in connection with
the kidnapping, said “the police was still investigating the case. We
will make sure that we get to the root of the matter, the woman is in
good condition of health when she was freed.”

Hunger strike

Around 2 pm in the
afternoon, the woman and her son moved to the governor’s office where
they were welcomed by the state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko. They also
visited the office of the State Security Service situated at Alagabaka
to official report their release. A source however claimed that an
undisclosed sum was paid to the kidnappers who had earlier demanded for
N50 million. But Mr. Wewe said no ransom was paid to the abductors,
thanking security agencies and the state government for their role in
ensuring his mother was released.

“I am grateful to
the Almighty God that my mother and the girl have been released. I
thank the state government and the security agencies for their
concern”, he said.

Sources say that 81-year-old Mrs. Wewe was on hunger strike throughout the period she was with her abductors.