Tope Oriloye, a secondary school student who was kidnapped on February 8 in the Makeke Community of Akoko Edo Local Government Area, has been released following the payment of a 2 million Naira ransom. The news was communicated by Bode Ekundayo, the National Coordinator of the Movement for the Advancement of Akoko Edo People, who expressed relief over Oriloye's safe return but highlighted the ongoing plight of another abductee, Samuel Ilesanmi, who was kidnapped at the same time but is still missing.

The abduction of Oriloye was part of a wider trend of kidnappings affecting the region, where criminal gangs have increasingly targeted individuals for ransom. The families of the victims were initially given a ransom demand of 100 million Naira, indicating the high stakes involved in such criminal activities. The willingness of the family to pay a lower amount raises questions about the pressures faced by communities in these situations and the threats posed by organized crime in Edo State.

The release of Oriloye has brought some relief to the Makeke community, as they have been concerned for the safety of their members amidst the rising incidents of kidnapping. While the community expresses gratitude for Oriloye's safe return, the continued captivity of Ilesanmi indicates that the fight against such crimes is far from over, and community leaders are calling for greater efforts from law enforcement to ensure the safe recovery of all abductees and to combat the trend of kidnappings in the region.