Apparently piqued by the non-committance of the different tiers of the government to their plights, families of victims of the abducted Kaduna-Abuja travellers have resorted to source for ransom fee from well-meaning Nigerians.

Arewa PUNCH investigations reveal that the broken-hearted relatives say they are taking their collective destiny into their hands so that they could secure the quick release of their loved ones from their captors.

Our correspondents further gathered that families of nine of the kidnapped persons have started soliciting funds from public spirited individuals for the payment of the N50 million demanded by the terrorists as ransom.

The families who published their account details and respective contacts, including telephone numbers, pointed out that the abductors had reached out to them during which time the demand was made.

Arewa PUNCH reports that no fewer than 30 travellers, penultimate, Sunday, were abducted along Dogon-Fili near the Katari general area in the Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

When Arewa PUNCH visited the communities, one of the leaders who sought anonymity for fear of retribution by the bandits narrated that, prior to that incident, several others in three communities of Badoko, Dudumishini and Kwakware had also been abducted while four other residents were killed by the terrorists.

However, the Kaduna State Police Command, while confirming the incident, denied that the bloodthirsty terrorists carried out any abduction.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansur Hassan, said operatives of the command engaged the hoodlums in a fierce battle, which resulted in six travellers sustaining gun shot injuries.

But the families of the abducted victims insisted through a viral WhatsApp message that those abducted by the terrorists included nine children from the families of both Alhaji Ibrahim Sadoh and Alhaji Abdulwahab Abubakar.

It noted that the terror group had reached out to the victim’s families where the demand was made, adding that both parents had spoken with their children, who say are unharmed but obviously distressed.

The message read, “Last week Saturday, the 7th of January 2024, there was an attack by kidnappers along Abuja/ Kaduna road of which the children of our brothers were unfortunately among the victims seized from the commercial vehicle they boarded to Kaduna and taken to unknown destination.

“Those abducted from our side are the children of Alhaji Ibrahim Sadoh and Alhaji Abdulwahab Abubakar. Numbering nine children altogether.

“Contact have been established with the kidnappers, and they are demanding a ransom of N50milion for their release.

“Both parents have spoken to the abducted children, and they sounded well, unharmed but obviously distressed, and would like the family to expedite action and facilitate their release.”

(The PUNCH)

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