The families of the abducted Kaduna-Abuja travellers are reportedly soliciting funds from the Nigerian public for the payment of the N50 million demanded by the terrorists as ransom.
No fewer than 85 persons, comprising both travellers and residents, were reportedly abducted by gunmen at Katari, along the Kaduna–Abuja highways, in the Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State between 6 and 7 January,
Four persons were also killed by the hoodlums.
The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan, admitted that there was a heavy gun duel between security operatives and bandits who attempted to cross the Kaduna-Abuja highway at Dogon Fili area heading towards Jere axis on January 6th, during which some of the bandits escaped with bullet wounds.
He explained that in the course of the gun battle, six persons plying the highway sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
But the police denied that anyone was kidnapped by the bandits.
However, in a viral WhatsApp message, the families of the abducted victims insisted that those abducted by the terrorists included nine children from the families of both Alhaji Ibrahim Sadoh and Alhaji Abdulwahab Abubakar, PUNCH reports.
They explained that the terror group had reached out to the victims’ families where the demand was made, adding that both parents had spoken with their children, who said they were unharmed but obviously distressed.
The message read, “Last week Saturday, the 7th of January 2024, there was an attack by kidnappers along Abuja/ Kaduna road of which the children of our brothers were unfortunately among the victims seized from the commercial vehicle they boarded to Kaduna and taken to unknown destination.
“Those abducted from our side are the children of Alhaji Ibrahim Sadoh and Alhaji Abdulwahab Abubakar; numbering nine children altogether. Contact has been established with the kidnappers, and they are demanding a ransom of N50milion for their release.
“Both parents have spoken to the abducted children, and they sounded well, unharmed but obviously distressed, and would like the family to expedite action and facilitate their release.”
The families of nine of the kidnapped persons have started soliciting funds from public spirited individuals for the payment of the N50 million demanded by the terrorists as ransom.
The families were said to have published their account details and respective contacts, including telephone numbers, pointing out that the abductors had reached out to them during which the demand was made.