Three persons abducted by gunmen at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Idi Ayunre, in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, have regained their freedom after six days in captivity.
The victims, including two staff members of the institute, reportedly returned to the facility at about 1pm on Wednesday and have since been reunited with their families.
Their release was confirmed by the Oyo State Police Command, which said efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the perpetrators.
Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the development, assuring that security operatives were working to bring those responsible for the abduction to justice.
“The kidnapped members of staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) have been released.
“Efforts are ongoing to smoke out the perpetrators from their hidden places,” Ayanlade said.
A source within the institute, who requested anonymity, also confirmed the victims’ return, saying they had spent six days in captivity.
“Our members of staff who were kidnapped last Friday at the various institute locations have regained their freedom after six days in captivity.
“They arrived at the institute at 1pm. They have been reunited with their respective families,” the source said.
However, an unconfirmed report indicated that a substantial ransom might have been paid to secure the victims’ release.
Neither the police nor the source who confirmed their return publicly established whether any ransom was paid.
The victims were identified as Mrs Eunice Babalola, an agricultural superintendent who heads the institute’s Central Nursery; Kehinde Gbalajobi, also an agricultural superintendent; and another man who resides in CRIN’s Senior Staff Quarters but is not an employee of the institute.
Babalola and Gbalajobi were reportedly abducted while walking from the Central Nursery to the Senior Staff Quarters, where Babalola intended to pick up some personal belongings from her residence.
Their driver was expected to pick them up at the quarters while returning from the nursery to the institute’s main office with other nursery staff.
According to a source familiar with the incident, the two employees were seized while making the journey, while the third victim was also abducted.
The gunmen reportedly attempted to abduct additional people at the Central Nursery but were repelled following a fierce exchange of gunfire with security personnel on duty.
The incident had triggered concern among workers and residents around the institute, particularly because the abductors were able to seize their victims within the facility’s operational area.
