Bandits demand N10m to free Abuja chief’s son

Bandits have demanded N10 million to free the abducted son of the village head of Tekpeshe, Ibrahim Sarki.

Sixteen other victims kidnapped alongside the immediate past Councillor of Gurdi Ward in Abaji Area Council of the FCT were realesed by the bandits, leaving the chief’s son.

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City & Crime had reported that the bandits released the former councillor and gave him a motorcycle to go and raise some money, foodstuff and wine before the remaining victims, including Sarki, would be set free.

The Waziri of Tekpeshe, Ibrahim Tanko, who spoke when our reporter visited the community on Sunday, confirmed that the bandits released the former councillor alongside 16 other victims and held back the son of the village head.

Waziri, who said he was among those released on Friday evening, said the bandits called through telephone on Saturday and demanded N10m.

He further said the released victims raised N5.2m, drugs worth N60,000, recharge cards and wine worth N75,000 for the bandits.

He explained that, “The community sold their motorcycles and goats and the car of the former councillor to raise the N5.2m.

“Only few of us are left in this village as we have moved our wives and children out. We don’t know where and how to raise the N10m.”

The spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, DSP Adeh Josephine, was yet to reply to an SMS about the development.