I paid ransom to kidnappers to free my staff, visitors – Clinic director

The director of the private clinic where seven gunmen invaded and abducted three persons, said he paid ransom to secure the release of the victims.

The Director of Kunwarke Clinic and Maternity in Kan-Tsakuuwa, near Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, who is a former Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Elisha Agwadu, said, “I can confirm to you that the kidnappers called me; we negotiated and I paid ransom to secure the release of one of my staff and two others who came to visit their loved ones and patients but were abducted at gunpoint in the clinic.

“I wouldn’t disclose the amount I raised and paid as ransom,” adding that, “I am appealing to the government, security agencies and the public to rise up to the challenge of insecurity and synergise to bring confidence back to the society.”

Agwadu further said the gunmen confessed that they came to kidnap him 26 times and that when they could not, they kidnapped his staff and some visitors.

It would be recalled that gunmen invaded the hospital and abducted one staff and two relations of patients, but one victim later escaped and the kidnappers had demanded N20m.

The Nasarawa State police spokesperson, ASP Ramhan Nansel, did not respond to calls put through to him to confirm the development.