Niger hospital attack: Bandits demand N90m from 9 abductees

The gunmen who abducted some members of staff of the Abdulsalami Abubakar General Hospital, Gulu in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, have demanded for ransoms of N10million each for the remaining 9 abductees.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the abductors, who went away with no fewer than 15 persons, including health officials of the hospital, later released a woman and some children because they could no longer walk the distance they wanted to cover.

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A source in the picture of the ongoing negotiation said the families of the abductees were struggling to raise the money to pay as government had already said it would not pay ransom to abductors.

Another source said, “The families are going from house to house to beg for contributions.”

A reliable government official told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that families of the victims were struggling to raise the money to secure the release of their loved ones as government would not pay ransom to bandits.

“Bandits have demanded for N10million each. And the state government’s policy is that it will not pay ransom to kidnappers. But families are making efforts to raise the money to pay,” he said.

More villagers flee

Meanwhile, dozens of farmers have continued to flee their homes to towns and cities, including Minna and Lapai, while some have left the area to stay with their relatives in Abuja and Suleja.

Tension had heightened following a letter purportedly dropped on Wednesday by bandits at Vulegbo village, a few kilometers from Gulu community, that they would attack on October 30. 

Two separate attacks have also been launched on Maijaki community and Lafiyan Kpada between Thursday and Friday, where many farmers were abducted.

Locals believe that  informants are aiding the attacks. 

It was learnt that the bandits who attacked Gulu General Hospital came with a list of the people they wanted to kidnap, including the head of clinical services, Dr John, and another official who was slaughtered during the attack when he attempted to resist abduction.