Kidnapped newlywed and her two sisters-in-law regain freedom in Kwara after payment of N7m ransom

A newlywed, Mrs. Rukkayat Musa and her two sister in-laws, who were kidnapped by gunmen in Kwara State have regained their freedom after payment of N7m ransom.

Rukkayat, Hafsat and Aliyah, were set free by their abductors in the early hours of Sunday, June 25, 2023. 

The trio were kidnapped from their house at Oniyangi area on Emir’s road, Ilorin in the Ilorin South local government area of the state last Wednesday. Rukkayat got married two months ago. 

While her husband, simply identified as Mr. Musa, managed to escape, Rukkayat and the two sisters were taken away by the gunmen who gained entry to the rented apartment of the couple around Alaya’s Compound, Ilorin.

The kidnappers later got in contact with the family and demanded a ransom of N50million before the release of the three ladies, a condition which they said should be met by the weekend.

While confirming the release of the persons in Ilorin on Sunday, one of Rukkayat’s brothers, who sought anonymity, said that the three ladies were released in the early hours of Sunday.

“They arrived in Ilorin and called us around 2am today (Sunday) but their release was not for free. The family paid a ransom of N7million to the kidnappers before they were set free. Though, the kidnappers demanded N50million. We could not raise up to that amount and we started negotiations with them and we told them that we are a poor family and have no money. We cried and begged them before they accepted the N7million that we raised within the family. The three ladies were taken to the hospital immediately for treatment and they are still on admission,” he said.

The relation, who insisted that the incident was reported to the Police, said that the ladies were not rescued through the Police.

Speaking on the development, spokesperson of the State Police command, Okasanmi Ajayi, said that he was not aware of the kidnap incident nor the release.