Barely three days after abducting a score of train passengers in Edo state, kidnappers have demanded a ransom to the tune of N620 million.
They were said to have reached out to the families of the abductees on Monday, January 9, and made the outrageous demand.
According to Punch, the executive director, Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, Benson Odia, confirmed the kidnappers’ demand of N20m for each victim.
“I can tell you that the kidnappers have demanded N20m, totalling N620m. This is absurd and I don’t know where poor people will be able to raise that amount of money,” Odia said, describing the demand as outrageous.
It would be recalled that 31 people about to board a train to Warri were kidnapped by AK-7- carrying gunmen who shot into the air sporadically before the abduction.
Many people were left with injuries as the gunmen forced their way to the train station in Igueben Local Government Area, Edo state.
Meanwhile, the Edo state government announced that six persons have secured their release from the then of the kidnappers.
Edo State commissioner for communication and orientation, Chris Nehikhare, made the disclosure in a statement to the media.
“The six persons are: a 65-year-old man, a nursing mother and her baby, a six-year-old girl and two siblings; aged two and five years old.
“We commend the efforts of the rescue team in the bushes and their support staff that have been working tirelessly since the incident occurred to ensure the kidnapped passengers are rescued and reunited with their families. We are confident that the other victims will be rescued soon as the highly motivated security personnel are in high spirits and have doubled down on the hot chase of the kidnappers,’’ Nehikhare said.
