The Ondo State Government has disclosed that kidnappers who abducted burial guests in Edo State last weekend, have reportedly demanded N90m ransom to secure the release of the victims.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamide Ademola-Olateju, who made this known while briefing newsmen on Monday, September 5, said the kidnappers are demanding between N3m and N10m to release each of the nine victims.
Ademola-Olateju however, said the state government will not be involved in the ransom negotiation, noting that the kidnappers use the money from the ransom to equip and arm themselves to do more harm.
According to her, “the payment of ransom empowered kidnappers to do more harm.”
She said that “The victims went for burial at Ewatto town. They were returning in a 32-seater Coaster bus hired from Rufus Guwa Polytechnic, in Owo when they were attacked by the suspected kidnappers.
“The kidnappers shot into the air and took 18 of the passengers.
“Those remaining called the Amotekun Corps who got to the scene within 15 minutes. Among those in the bush, seven were found and two others escaped
“Amotekun is working with the police, the DSS and the Nigerian Army to secure the release of the remaining victims.
“We commend the gallant Amotekun Corps in getting to the scene. Ondo State will not be a haven for criminals.
The commissioner said that the kidnappers “find this spot convenient because it borders Edo State. They will strike and run back into Edo State.”
It would be recalled that one of the burial guests, who escaped on Saturday, told newsmen that “the kidnappers were about 10 in number. They jumped into the highway and forcefully stopped our driver.
They were holding AK-47 rifles and cutlasses. We thought they were armed robbers until they started marching some of the occupants into the bush.
“In our state of confusion, they were shouting where is money, where is money, they collected all the money and those whose money were inside the bus were allowed to go back and bring it.
“I told one of them that I left my bag in the bus and he asked me to go and bring it. I went back and stayed lying face down on the bus until they all left the highway. That was my saving grace.
“They asked all those in the bus to line up in two rows. They select randomly those to be marched into the bush and those to be freed.
