The family of Atitebi Tolulope Elijah, a kidnap victim, yesterday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to secure his release and that of 17 others who were abducted alongside.

Elijah and his co-passengers were kidnapped last Friday along Akunu-Akoko road, at the border between Kogi and Ondo states.

In an emotion-laden voice, Bukola Atitebi narrated how her husband set out for the journey, which has now brought sorrow to the family.

She said: “My husband left Abuja to rectify some technical issues at the Lagos office of the company he works for. After the job, he took the first bus from Jibowu. At the Akunu-Akoko expressway in Kogi State, they were accosted on the road. The driver of the bus and all the occupants were taken to a nearby bush, leaving one teenage girl in the bus. ”

She said further: “One of the kidnappers called my father-in-law who lives in Mowe and a N50 million ransom was requested by the gunmen before he could be released. The old man told the kidnappers that he only has N1.5 million in his account and pleaded with them to accept it.”

Bukola said her husband’s immediate boss and other staff from his workplace have been with the family, trying to see that her husband is released.