From John Adams, Minna
Gunmen who abducted five people on their way back from farm in Ingle Otanufe community in Okpokwu LGA of Benue State have established contact with the community demanding N10million ransom for their release.
This is coming barely three days after the incident which has thrown the entire community into confusion since last Wednesday.
It is the second of such kidnap incident in the area in the last two years.
The community has cried out to the government for help over the fate of the abductees, saying that they could not afford such outrageous demand by the gunmen, as they are peasant farmers struggling to make ends meet with their little farm produce.
It would be recalled that five people, including a couple were kidnapped from different locations while on their way from their farms at about 6: 00pm last Wednesday.
The National Public Relation Officer (PRO), Otanufe National Community Development Association, Comrade Christopher Ijika who confirmed the demand by the gunmen, said the bandits had called the family members of the abductees and made a ransom demand of N10million.
“Yes the people called the family members yesterday (Friday) demanding N10million before the victims could be released. So it has been established that the people are not killed as being contemplated by the community but abducted; they are still alive.
“But this demand is very outrageous for the families or the community to afford. These are peasant farmers struggling to live, so why should anybody add more pains to their frustration. It is quite unfortunate that this kind of evil would be visited on our community,” he lamented.
According to Ijika, “that is why we are strongly appealing to the government to come to the aid of the families and the entire community to ensure that the victims are freed unhurt as there is no way that they can afford this outrageous amount they are demanding.”
He disclosed that about two years ago some people were abducted from the community by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in similar circumstances, adding that the victims later regained their freedom after their families paid between N200, 000 and N300, 000 ransoms.