April 25, 2026 | Crime & Security | SUNTV Global Channel Reporting
A Lagos-based woman, Mrs. Olanike Ogundare, who was abducted from her residence in the Ijedodo area of , has regained her freedom after her family reportedly paid a ransom of $17,500 to her captors.
Family sources confirmed on Saturday that the victim was released following days of negotiations, bringing relief to relatives and members of the community who had been gripped by fear since her abduction.
Mrs. Ogundare was reportedly kidnapped in the early hours of Wednesday at about 1:00 a.m. from her home on Olufemi Ogundare Street. Eyewitness accounts revealed that the armed assailants carried out a coordinated operation, overpowering the security guard on duty at gunpoint before whisking her away to an undisclosed location.
Security agencies, including the and the , were said to have been involved in efforts to secure her release. Community leaders and local security networks were also mobilised, including members of the Oodua People’s Congress led by .
Initial reports indicated that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₦60 million, but later switched to payment in US dollars — a move security analysts believe may have been intended to make tracking the transaction more difficult.
Sources further disclosed that communication between the abductors and the family was established through the victim’s phone, with an intermediary reportedly facilitating negotiations.
The incident once again highlights the growing concerns over insecurity and kidnapping-for-ransom operations across parts of Nigeria, particularly in major urban centres.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding her release or whether any arrests have been made.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to follow this developing story.
