The abductors of a Kaduna State-based ophthalmologist, Ganiya Olawale-Popoola; her husband, Nurudeen Popola, and their visitor, AbdulMugniy Folaranmi, on the Nationwide Eye Heart Quarters in Igabi Native Authorities Space of Kaduna State, reportedly pushed for a ransom of N100 million earlier than their launch from captivity a month later.
PUNCH Metro A household supply who spoke on situation of anonymity stated regardless of efforts by the household to barter a discount within the ransom, the abductors had insisted on the N100m ransom.
PUNCH within the well being area had reported that the gunmen allegedly entered the ophthalmologist's residence on December 27, 2023, round 1 a.m. and kidnapped the physician, her air drive officer husband, who’s a squadron chief, and their 16-year-old visitor.
It was discovered that nothing was heard from the abductors till they referred to as on the fourth day and demanded the cost of N100 million as ransom earlier than their launch from captivity.
Our correspondent gathered that the abductors are stated to have threatened to kill the couple if the N100m was not paid earlier than January 18.
The household supply disclosed that the abductors contacted the household on Friday and insisted that they might kill the victims if the ransom was not paid.
The supply stated: “The abductors contacted us on Friday. Each time they contacted us, they requested one of many victims who understood Hausa and English to speak to us. They insisted that they might not return on the N100m ransom.
“We begged them to even take into account elevating N20m, which the household may increase, however they refused. Everybody within the household is in a state of confusion about what could be finished.”
The supply additional acknowledged that when the household contacted the air drive and police, they have been instructed that they have been working to safe their launch with out injuring the victims whereas they appealed to the required authorities to safe the discharge of to assist preserve their households protected.
“We contacted the police and the air drive, however what they stored telling us was that they have been working to get them launched from their captors. They (the police and the air drive) instructed us that that they had ensured that the victims weren’t injured throughout the rescue.
“We as a household enchantment to the Nigerian authorities to assist us safe the discharge of our members of the family. It's been over a month since they have been kidnapped and we’re exhausted as a household. There isn’t a means we are able to increase the N100 million ransom demanded by the abductors,” the supply stated.
When contacted on Monday, Mansir Hassan, Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police, stated the command was making efforts to safe the discharge of the abductees with out inflicting any casualties.
“Many kidnapping circumstances have been registered in latest occasions. We have been in a position to rescue some victims and arrest some kidnappers. The police are usually not relenting in guaranteeing that every one kidnapped victims are rescued from their captors, however we need to be sure that there aren’t any casualties whereas we rescue them,” Hassan revealed.
