Bandits, who abducted seven residents of Kuduru, a neighbouring community in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, have reportedly demanded N290 million ransom to release the hostages.
The victims, including a pregnant woman and three children, who spent over one month in captivity, were abducted at Kuduru Extension by the bandits.
According to a leader of the community, who did not want to be named, the bandits have threatened to kill two out of the victims if the N290m was not paid on time.
He said the abductors also demanded food items, drugs, bed sheets and cardigans.
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“They have reached out to us to bring N290 million to secure their release or that they will kill two of them. We have a pregnant woman and three children among them.
“They asked us to bring bags of rice, packs of noodles, cough syrups, antibiotics, bedsheets and cardigans. They insist that the N290 million ransom must be completed for them to let our people go,” he said.
The community leader pleaded with Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of police (IGP) and Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, to come to the rescue of the hostages.
“We know that they are trying their best but we plead with them to rescue our families. We understand that these people are already falling sick in captivity because of the harsh weather and the treatment there,” he pleaded.