Kidnappers of 7 ABSU students demand N14m ransom

Gunmen who kidnapped seven students of the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu have demanded N14 million ransom.

 The kidnappers were reported to have contacted the families of the students and demanded N2m for each of their victims.

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The students were kidnapped along the Okigwe/Uturu Road when the bus they were travelling in with other passengers was ambushed by the gunmen.

Two of the victims have been identified as Mejeh Emmanuel and Divine Nwachukwu, both medical students.

The university management said it has intensified efforts to secure the release of the affected students, while advising students to avoid night travels.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Police Command has launched a rescue mission to free the students.

Spokesman of the command, Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the kidnap of the seven students

 “Abia State and Imo State commands are on the matter. The students are from Abia and from what I heard, they are about seven in number,” he said.

 Speaking on the development, the Vice-chancellor of ABSU, Prof. Onyemachi Ogbulu, confirmed that the kidnappers have already made contact and requested for ransom before the students could be freed.

 He said the kidnappers had contacted him on Friday and demanded N10 million on each of the students but 24 hours later, they reduced the ransom to N2 million.

The ABSU VC expressed his frustration with the security agencies, saying the institution was tired of hearing about frequent kidnappings of its students in spite of the heavy presence of security agents along the road leading to the campus.

Prof. Ogbulu said the ABSU management has communicated to the Commissioner of Police, Battalion Commander, the AIG, DSS and others for the relevant authorities to take action to free the students.