The families of prospective corps members from Akwa Ibom, who were kidnapped on the 17th of August while on their way to the orientation camp in Sokoto State, have pleaded with the Federal Government to intervene and help secure the release of the victims, News About Nigeria reports.
The families, who spoke to Vanguard on Wednesday in Uyo, revealed that a total ransom of N30.8 million has been paid to the abductors, but only one person has been released.
According to them, the kidnappers are demanding a payment of N10 million each for the release of the remaining victims.
A family member of one of the victims, Mr Mfon Friday, disclosed that an initial sum of N13.6 million was paid towards the end of October, and an additional sum of N17.2 million has also been paid. Despite these payments, the kidnappers have refused to release the victims.
He stated that the victims, along with the bus driver, are still in the bush in Zamfara, and it has been over 100 days since they were kidnapped.
Furthermore, Mr Friday revealed that the kidnappers are now demanding an additional N70 million before they release the remaining victims.
He expressed concern that the kidnappers have threatened to let the victims die if the money is not paid, emphasizing that many of the children are seriously ill at the moment.
He urgently called on the government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid and assist in securing the release of their relatives.
Mr Friday highlighted that the victims are not from affluent families, and raising the ransom was already a challenging task, leaving them with nothing to meet the kidnappers’ escalating demands.
