Terrorists who abducted scores of members of the telecoms operators on their way home from a wedding along the Sokoto-Zamfara Expressway on Saturday have reportedly demanded N145 million to release their victims.
The State Secretary of the union, Nasiru Musa, said the terrorist reached out to the union, demanding N5 million per victim, Ripples Nigeria reports.
Musa further states that seven of the union members were rescued by the Yansaki, a local vigilante group in the evening after their abduction.
“The kidnappers of our union members have placed a ransom demand of N145 million at N5 million per head.
“Our members were returning from a wedding ceremony in Sokoto State when they were abducted on Saturday evening in Dogon Awo, a community around Tureta town, bordering Sokoto and Zamfara States.
“The victims are mobile phone and accessories dealers in Bebeji plaza in Gusau, Zamfara State capital.
“The bandits have called many times on Monday morning to inform us of their stand regarding our members that are with them.
“They demanded five million nairas for each of the 30 kidnapped victims with them, making it a total sum of 145 million nairas before they can regain their freedom.
“The bandits insisted that the money must be paid collectively, warning that they will not deal with the victims individually.
“The DPO of Bakura Local Government Area called Monday morning, informing us that seven of the abducted people have been rescued by the Yansakai group on Sunday evening
“We have sent a delegation to go and bring them to Gusau, the state capital so that we can reunite them with their families,” Musa stated.
Chairman of the union in Gusau Local Governmrnt Area of the state, Mustapha Khalifa, speaking on the incident, appelaed to the families and relations of the victims to stay calm and continue praying for their release.
