The kidnapped Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mrs Grace Ogunleye, has regained her freedom from her abductors.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, who made the disclosure in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, said that the council official was rescued unhurt.

Sources, who said that Ogunleye was kidnapped on Wednesday along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road, stated that her vehicle was later found abandoned while her whereabouts remained unknown, just as her mobile phone had also been switched off.

The police spokesperson’s statement reads, “One Mrs Ogunleye Grace, the Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, who was allegedly kidnapped on 20th May, 2026 by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums, has been rescued unhurt.

“The breakthrough came as a result of a joint operation by the police, the military and other security agencies as well as local security personnel, who embarked on a rescue mission and mounted pressure on the hoodlums.

“The Commissioner of Police, Micheal Falade, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident in order to unravel the cause and those behind it,” Abutu stated.

Recall that unknown gunmen on April 28, 2026, attacked a Christ Apostolic Church at Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area during a programme, shot dead the pastor and whisked away about 15 worshippers.

The kidnapped persons are still in the kidnappers’ den till date, as security agencies said they were working round the clock to rescue them alive. (PUNCH)

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