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Two members of the Nigeria Association for the Blind in Plateau State have been kidnapped by suspected gunmen along the Jos – Akwanga road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The abductors are also demanding a N50 million ransom for their release.
The victims, who were also visually impaired, were said to be among a nine-man delegation that had travelled from Jos to Benue State to attend a programme and returning to their base.
Ishaya Ayuba Danjatau, who’s a member of the association, told newsmen in Jos that seven of them escaped.
He said that the victims were kidnapped on Monday night while returning to Jos after receiving information that the programme had been postponed.
He said the delegation were half way to their destination, having reached Akwanga before they received the information about the postponement of the event and had to turn back to Jos.
He said, “Our members were going for a programme in Benue State, but while they were around Akwanga, they received a call that the programme had been postponed. They had to turn back to return to Jos, but around Riyom, they were kidnapped by heavily armed men.
He said that the kidnappers latter made contacts with a negotiator and asked for a N50 million ransom before the victims could be released.
According to him, the abductors made contact around 7am on Tuesday, using one of the victims’ phones.
Chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, (JONAPWD,) Shindol Aaron, who confirmed the incident, said the victims were abducted around 8pm in Riyom LGA.
He said, “They were selected to attend a training in Benue State and, from what I gathered, they took off from Jos.”
“Along the way, they got information that the event had been postponed to another day and they were asked to return to their station.”
“So, it was on their way back to Jos that they encountered some kidnappers who abducted them.”
“They were nine in the vehicle. Seven of them escaped and two were abducted. So, right now, we have a male and a lady in their custody.”
According to him, the abductors had established contact with someone in connection with the release of the victims.
He said that he had not spoken with the kidnappers, but was told that they were asking for ransom from somebody who spoke with them.”
A police source however told our correspondent that he wasn’t sure the incident had been reported to the police.
The source said that normally the report would come from the divisional police officer, but if it didn’t happen within Jos, the report would not be relayed to Plateau.
