Idowu Shaba, a well-known cocoa dealer in Ondo State’s Supare Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area, miraculously fled his kidnappers’ hideout after they fell asleep.
Between Afo and Idoani, the 55-year-old cocoa merchant and others in his vehicle were ambushed by armed men on their way to Idoani in the state’s Ose Local Government Area for a church service.
Shaba and a female passenger in the car were kidnapped and driven into the jungle.
Before the hostages fled their hideout, the kidnappers sought a ransom of N10 million, according to a source.
Shaba, the farmer, had pretended to be sound asleep and snoring excessively in the night alongside the female victim, according to the source.
The source who pleaded anonymity said, “That must have made his abductors, who believed that their victims were deep asleep to also take their time to sleep comfortably.
“Shaba seized the opportunity to carry their weapons. He took his abductors’ AK-47 rifle, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons in their possession and also rescued the other lady.”
The weapons, according to the source, had police inscriptions on them.
SP Funmilayo Odunlami, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the event and said that an investigation had begun to apprehend the kidnappers.