Gunmen who abducted students and staff of the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic in Zaria, Kaduna State, two weeks ago have demanded a collective ransom of N22.5 million.
Daily Trust gathered that the kidnappers reached out to the families of seven students and two lecturers of the institution demanding N2.5 million for each of the victims to regain their freedom.
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A relative of one of the abducted students told our correspondent that the kidnappers had earlier demanded N10 million each but that the ransom had been reduced to N2.5 million each following intense negotiations.
She said among the students in captivity were two married women who the kidnappers earlier promised to release unconditionally but were yet to do so.
She said, “When we asked them about the status of the two married women yesterday, they told us it was not our place to ask questions, that after all they had given their words to release them. They told us they would release them when the time is right.”
Meanwhile, the management of the institution has assured staff and students of adequate security, saying the school had stationed security agents across its campuses and had since commenced the fencing of its premises to keep criminals away.