Man held by kidnappers after paying ransom for other victims

Kidnappers have held a man, Solomon Isaac, hostage after collecting N600,000 from him in order to release two Kidnapped victims in their custody at Rubochi Sabo community in Gadabuke, Toto Local Government Council of Nasarawa state.

A member of the victim’s family, who preferred anonymity, said the incident happened last Wednesday, after Isaac went to deliver ransom to the kidnappers his two brothers, Usman Emmanuel and Thankgod Emmanuel.

• Police arrest 4 suspects, recover 200 cows, weapons in Zamfara
• 7 still missing as bandits ambush police officers in Kaduna

The two were abducted on January, 4, 2021 on a farm in the community.

The source disclosed that the two brothers were harvesting yam when the gunmen invaded their farm and whisked them away.

He said the family struggled to raise N600,000 after intensive negotiation with kidnappers who insisted on collecting N2 million earlier.

“So it was after the family were able to negotiate with them for over a week, before they now agreed to collect N600,000, but when Isaac went to deliver the ransom they keep him hostage,” he said.

According to him, the kidnappers released one of the victims earlier abducted and held Isaac after collecting the N600,000.

He said the kidnappers are demanding N1 million ransom before Isaac and one other victim will be set free.

“In fact, as I speak to you, the family are confused about where to source for another N1 million to secure the release of the two victims in their captivity, after they (kidnappers) had collected N600,000,” he said.

A resident of neighboring Kande village in the area, who preferred anonymity, said suspected kidnappers were having a field day around the area, adding farmers are now afraid to go to their farms to harvest their crops for fear.

“And I want to tell you that these kidnappers mostly come from neighboring villages of Kuje area council in FCT because that is where there are big forests to strike here and go back to their hideout,” he said.

The spokesman of the Nasarawa state police command ASP Ramhan Nansel, was yet to pick calls or reply to text message sent to his phone to confirm the incident.