Kidnappers free 17 Nigerians after collecting food, cash as ransom

Kidnappers have released 17 persons they abducted from the Gwargwada-Sabo community in the Gadabuke Development Area of Nasarawa State, police say.

The victims were kidnapped while observing their Isha’i prayers in a mosque in the Toto Local Government Area of the state last Friday.

One of the victims said that their families paid N2.2m as ransom to secure their release, in addition to food items like grains and oil, among others.

According to him, some of the victims, who did not have money, were asked to give grains, and those whose families were financially

He noted that the kidnappers had informants, who gave out information on the social status of their victims to them.

The victims are a library official attached to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, three ladies and 13 male adults.

Police confirmed the development but said they were not sure if ransom was paid.

“The command is not aware if ransom was paid,” state police spokesperson Ramhan Nansel was quoted by Punch to have said.

“What I have to say is that the victims were released from the kidnappers’ den following high pressure mounted on them by police personnel, who were hunting them,” he claimed.buoyant paid heavy amounts of money.