Osun Vice Chairman Abduction: 22 Days and Counting

It has been 22 days since the Vice Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area in Osun State, Mr Debo Farounbi, was abducted by suspected bandits. The abduction occurred on June 9 in Ora, a community along the Osun/Kwara boundary, around 10 pm. According to reports, Farounbi was taken alongside three other individuals, but the swift response from military personnel and local volunteers forced the perpetrators to abandon their other captives and flee with the vice chairman amidst a heavy exchange of gunfire. A family source, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that the abductors initially demanded a ransom of N200m from Farounbi's family. However, after days of intense negotiation, the demand was reduced to N50m. The source disclosed that the abductors used Farounbi's mobile phone to establish contact with his family and even sent pictures of him to put pressure on them. There are growing concerns about Farounbi's health, and as of the last update, he has not been released. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that the police are working towards a safe rescue of the victim. Ojelabi stated that two individuals were arrested in the forest after the abduction and have since been arraigned and remanded in a correctional centre. The police are unaware of any ransom negotiations between the family and the abductors. The family is still trying to raise the demanded ransom, but there are fears that the security agencies may not be actively pursuing a rescue operation. Ojelabi reassured that the command is committed to rescuing Farounbi safely.