From Molly Kilete, Abuja
Abductors of two landlords in the Asokoro Extension area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja have demanded N20 million ransom from their families to secure their release.
The two landlords were said to have been abducted Sunday night when the kidnappers stormed the area and pointed a gun at one of the landlords, while the other was abducted shortly after he came down from a commercial motorcycle.
It was gathered that some residents, who witnessed the incident, could not shout for help for fear of being attacked by the kidnappers who whisked their victims away and contacted their families two hours after their abduction.
The Commander, Vigilance Group of Nigeria, Asokoro, branch, Mohammed Seidu, who confirmed the incident to journalists, said the group is working with the police to secure the release of the victims unhurt, adding that, already, policemen attached to the Asokoro Police Station were aware of the matter and combing the nearby bushes.
A resident of the area, who did not want to be mentioned in print for fear of being attacked, said, “the incident happened around 11pm, on Sunday night, and one of the landlords slept outside because of the heat, and when the robbers came around, they saw him and pointed a gun to his head.
With the gun on his head, the armed robbers asked him to take them to his house, and he showed them, but they were not satisfied because there were other bigger houses next to his house.
“Not impressed with the landlord’s house, they took him to a bigger house and asked him to knock on the gate. Upon knocking at the gate the people inside asked who it was and he said he was the one, and because they knew him, they opened the gate for him, not knowing he was with the robbers. As soon as they opened the gate, the robbers entered and kidnapped the owner of the house”.
In the case of the second kidnapped landlord, he said: “The second landlord had issues with his car and abandoned it and came home with a commercial motorcycle who dropped him off in front of his house. He was about to enter his house when they attacked and took him away.
“Two hours after the armed robbers left, they called the families of their victims, demanding N10 million each to secure their release or get them killed. However, one of the families of the landlords begged them to take N2 million, which they promised to pay immediately, but the kidnappers insisted on N10 million or kill them.”
The FCT Police command was yet to issue a statement on the matter at the time of this report. The Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, could not be reached when a call was put to her mobile telephone number.