Peace Onyesom, a newly called-to-bar lawyer, and her sister, Gift, who were kidnapped last Friday along the Okene–Auchi Road, have regained their freedom.
Their brother, Godspower Onyesom, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, saying, “She has been released. She is back home.”
Peace, who had just participated in the Nigerian Law School call-to-bar ceremony on September 23, was travelling to Benin, Edo State, with her sister when the abduction occurred.
Earlier, their sister, Adaeze Onyesom, revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded N100m ransom before later reducing it to N40m.
According to her, the family, unable to raise the sum, had resorted to selling properties in a desperate attempt to secure their release.
In a video message confirming their freedom, Peace expressed gratitude and disclosed that soldiers in Okpella, Edo State, rescued them. “Thank you, everyone. My sister and I have been rescued. The military in Okpella rescued us,” she said.
Former aide to the Delta State governor, Harrison Gwamnishu, also announced their release in a Facebook post on Tuesday, noting they were freed near a village in Okpella.
Efforts to reach the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Aya, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls at press time.
However, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had earlier disclosed via his X page on Sunday that eight kidnap victims were rescued in the state.
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Kidnappings remain common along highways linking Abuja, Kogi, and Edo. In February, an NYSC member, Rofiat Lawal, was abducted on the Benin–Ore Road and freed after a N1m ransom was paid. More recently, on September 9, the Kogi State Vigilante Service confirmed the abduction of three bus passengers at Aku village on the Okene–Lokoja Expressway.
