The Gunmen who abducted no fewer than 150 villagers from Kuchi Community in Munya local government area of Niger State have rejected N15 million ransom money offered by members of the community for the release of their loved ones.

The Bandits who are in the last two weeks having a field day, operating with impunity since the Joint Security Taskforce were forced out of the community are demanding N1million for the release of each victim.

This brings to N150million the total ransom money being demanded by the Bandits.

In addition to this the Bandits have released and asked a man whose wife and four children were among the abductees to go and source for N60million for the release of his family members.

The community had initially offered N60,000 for the release of each victim but later increased it to N100,000 but this was rejected by the Bandits.

However, while the negotiation was ongoing, the Gunmen on Sunday night invaded another community, Kakuru, about five Kilometers from Kuchi and went away with 30 people, bringing the total number of villagers in their captivity now to 180.

A source close to the community who spoke to Daily Sun in confidence said the Bandits have threatened to kill five of the victims as a warning for them to go and source for the ransom money.

“They told us that if we don’t pay the money before 15^th of this month (June) they will kill five of them as a warning to what will happen to the rest victims.

“They said that the hundred thousand naira is not up to what they hired their guns with, not even to talk about bullets they buy. Infact they told us that they will not reduce anything from the N1million for each victim.

“The entire community is in mourning mood right now because there is no way that the people can afford this amount and unfortunately there is no any effort from anywhere to rescue the people.

“Since this abduction started three weeks ago, no government official or security agents has visited the community. The government is aware of the situation but nothing has been done”, he added.

Kuchi Community have been left without the presence of a single security agent since the incident occurred, a situation that has forced the people to flee their homes.

It was gathered 90 percent of the inhabitants of the acient railway town have abandoned their homes and relocated to Sarkin Pawa, the headquarters of the local government while others are taking refuge in neighboring villages with their family members.

The Chairman of Munya local government council Alhaji Aminu Najume who confirmed the latest abduction of the additional 30 people, said all the victims are still being held by the Bandits.

“Only two people were released to go and source for money for the release of their family members. A man who was kidnapped alongside his wife and three children was asked to go look for the money.

“Another one is an old man who was released on health ground but his two children and their wives are being held and was equally asked to go and source for money for their release.”, he said.

The Chairman also confirmed that no security agents has visited the community since the attack occurred, saying that “we are still waiting for the deployment of security to the community. No any security presence in the community for now”, he added. (Daily Sun)

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