Three CRIN Staff Regain Freedom After Payment of N50m Ransom

According to the Tribune Online, the staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan, Oyo State, were abducted last Thursday by armed men while inspecting crops on a farm within the institute’s premises. The abductees regained their freedom early on Wednesday, six days later, after a ransom of N50 million was paid. The source did not mention the identity of the kidnappers or provide details on their demands. The incident is the latest in a series of kidnappings targeting individuals and institutions in Nigeria, underscoring the ongoing security challenges facing the country. The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) is a government-owned research institution under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The institute conducts research on cocoa production and provides extension services to cocoa farmers across the country.