Largest ever ransom paid for kidnap victim in Nigeria as $220,000 is handed over for Chinese construction worker

LAST week a record Nigerian ransom fee of N100m ($220,000) was paid to kidnappers who abducted a Chinese expatriate in Ekiti State working for a construction company refurbishing the Ado Ekiti-Iyin Ekiti Road.

Identified as Mr Wang, the Chinese national was abducted last Friday on the construction site by gunmen, who also killed one of the policemen attached to the company. Yesterday, however, one source close to the company said the abductee was released by his captors around 11pm on after the payment of a N100m ransom fee.

According to the source, the ransom was collected in Kwara State, and the expatriate was released around Ilawe-Igede road in Ekiti state.

According to the source, the ransom was collected in Kwara state and the expatriate was released around Ilawe-Igede road in Ekiti State. He added: “The N100m was taken to a bush in Kwara State where the kidnappers collected and confirmed it before the man was released at a very difficult location along Igede-Ilawe road in Ekiti State.

Sunday Abutu, a spokesman for the Ekiti State Police Command confirmed the release, saying it  was made possible after a serious manhunt for the kidnappers was launched by a combined team of security operatives. He added: “Yes, he was released after a serious manhunt and pressure from the security operatives around Ilawe-Igede at about 11.30 pm on Tuesday.”