4 Niger kidnap victims freed after N5.5m ransom

Four among people kidnapped at Batatti in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday have been freed after paying N5.5 million ransom.

One of the victims, Kolade Olushola, said they were released at about 7.30 pm on Sunday.

It would be recalled that bandits numbering about ten attacked Battati on Friday and looted his and other shops by the major road to Mokwa.

The bandits were said to have arrived Batatti in a white Hilux vehicle and performed congregational Ishai prayers with the members of the community before firing into the air which made traders to abandon their shops.

It was reported on Sunday that the bandits were demanding N50 million ransom, to secure the release of the five victims even as other valuables including laptops and handsets were carted away.

Olushola said others in the custody of the bandits are Bose, and Malam Aliyu, who also own a shop by the road and a tractor engineer who was said to be in transit driving a Hilux vehicle and was shot that night because of the reflection from his vehicle light and was added to the three victims.

The victims said they could not identify the kidnappers as they were blindfolded until the day of their release despite spending three days in captivity with their kidnappers.

The driver of the Hilux vehicle paid N2 million, Olushola and Bose paid N3 million and Aliyu paid N500, 000. It was gathered that security operatives have been patrolling the areas in the wake of the incident.  (Daily Trust)

•Niger state map

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