Kidnappers release eight Abuja abductees, collect N5 million ransom
Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja
Eight out of the 10 persons abducted last Monday by gunmen at Pegi, a community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been released.
After series of plead, THE NATION learnt that the victims were freed by their abductors after coughing out N5 million ransom.
According to sources, many of them were reportedly molested by their captors over the failure of their family members to meet the ransom demand.
A resident, who spoke with our correspondent under anonymity, said the eighth victim was released on Sunday.
He added that two others were still in the custody of the yet to be identified gunmen.
He said a victim, identified as Abdulmajeed Dayo, who was visiting a friend in Pegi, was abducted alongside a commercial motorcyclist taking him to the community.
The source said: “Dayo was released on Friday after spending five days with his abductors. He said they were not given any food by their captors and that the hoodlums beat anyone whose family failed to provide the ransom demanded.
“Dayo further explained that the family of the abducted commercial motorcyclist paid over N500,000 which the gunmen grudgingly accepted out of sympathy. Other victims were said to have paid more than that with the gunmen realizing over N5m.”
Confirming the release of the victims, Chairman of Pegi Community Development Association, Mr Isaac Taiwo, said he saw some of the freed victims, including the 12-year-old boy.
Taiwo disclosed that security had been beefed up in the community by a team of policemen, civil defence officers and vigilante group.
Security officers are also on patrol in Kuje and its environs and have been given a task to fish out the kidnappers.
Residents of Pegi and nearby communities have been living in fear since the incident happened.
– Nation
