Abductors of 28 travellers in Plateau State have reportedly issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the families of their victims, demanding a ransom of N1.5 million per person, or the captives will be killed.
The victims, including men, women, and children, were kidnapped on Sunday, 21 December, in the Zak community of Bashar district, Wase Local Government Area, while travelling to attend a Maulud Nabbiy event.
Family members said the kidnappers initially contacted them to demand payment, despite the victims’ relatives explaining that they were poor farmers unable to raise such large sums.
One week after the abduction, the kidnappers reportedly insisted that the ransom be paid within 24 hours, threatening to execute the captives if their demands were not met.
Ibrahim Musa, a relative of one of the victims, said the kidnappers’ renewed threat followed the intervention of the Wase LGA Chairman, Muhammed Hamisu, who ordered security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the victims.
Responding to the order, Plateau State police spokesman DSP Alfred Alabo confirmed that a combined team of soldiers and police had been deployed to the area, with helicopters used to search for the abductees, secure their release, and apprehend the kidnappers.
Musa said the presence of security forces appeared to have angered the abductors.
“After a few days without contact, the kidnappers called again on Sunday, saying they had seen helicopters flying in the bush searching for the victims,” he told newsmen.
“They told us they would kill our relatives if the ransom is not paid within 24 hours. At the moment, we don’t know what to do. We are pleading with the government to come to our aid, as we are poor people and cannot possibly raise such an amount within the time they have given us,” Musa added.