Abducted girls: Netizens kick as kidnappers ‘raise ransom to N700m’

Nigerians on Monday took to social media to knock the Federal Government and security apparatus over the kidnap and killings of some residents in the Federal Capital Territory.

This is coming hours after reports emerged that the kidnappers had allegedly killed three of their victims and raised the ransom being demanded to N700 million.

Among those allegedly killed, as reported by Daily Trust, was a secondary school student and daughter of the Ekiti state-born chief legal officer of the National University Commission, Miss Folorunsho Ariyo.

The kidnappers dumped the remains of four victims they executed around a former military checkpoint behind Idah Junction along the Bwari-Jere SCC Road in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the report added.

The PUNCH had on Friday, January 5, reported how two policemen sustained bullet injuries, while seven family members were abducted, with one killed during an attack by bandits in Bwari, Abuja.

The earlier abducted persons were Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, his five children, and the daughter of his late brother who was killed during the attack.

While Al-Kadriyar was later released with an order to provide ₦60 million as ransom for the abducted girls, one of his daughters, Nabeeha was killed and buried on Friday, while the abductors raised the ransom to ₦100m for the remaining five girls.

When contacted by one of our correspondents on the development, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh revealed that the police was on top of the matter, while noting that details could not be revealed for security reasons.

“We’re on top of the matter. But we can’t reveal details for security reasons,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has vowed to rescue four sisters and their cousins who were kidnapped in their family home in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

Reacting to the development on Sunday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police had initiated a comprehensive plan of action to rescue the abducted girls and arrest the bandits.

Adjobi noted, “In the wake of the abduction of six young girls in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, it is vital to state that the Police Force has already initiated a comprehensive plan of action. The Force Headquarters is diligently coordinating efforts to address this and prevent any further occurrence, as all hands are on deck to rescue the victims.

“However, the sensitivity of the situation necessitates discretion, and as a result, specific details are being kept confidential to avoid compromising ongoing operations. The NPF is actively engaging and contacting individuals crucial to the rescue operations and investigation. The objective is not only to bring perpetrators to justice but also to intensify efforts in rescue operations for victims still in captivity.

“Furthermore, recognising the psychological impact on affected families, the Police are encouraging open communication with their operatives to provide support, information, and assistance to mitigate the psychological warfare imposed by kidnappers on the relatives and loved ones of their victims.”

But reacting to the killings and worsening insecurity in the country, Nigerians took to X on Monday, decrying the level of boldness of bandits and kidnappers across Nigeria.

They were reacting to unconfirmed reports that the kidnappers raised their demand from the initial N60 million per person to N100 million, now totalling N700 million after killing some of their victims.

On her part, an X user, @FakhuusHashim said it was surprising that kidnap victims were being killed because of delayed ransom payment.

She wrote, “These bandits have access to social media. That is the only reason they would increase ransom to N700m after killing 3 of the 10 victims for delayed payment. Still no statement from FG. VP has carried his leg and travelled to Davos in the midst of this horror.

“This is why Pantami’s tweet was incredibly dangerous and a shame he didn’t learn public engagement from his term in office.”

Another user, @Letter-to-Jack, knocked a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, for helping in raising part of the ransom demanded by bandits to release sisters of slain Nabeeha.

“As minister, you enforced NIN for every Nigerian and made sure every SIM card was linked to NIN, to make it easy to track, curtail and arrest kidnappers. Less than 8 months after you left your role, you’re on the internet helping to crowdfund ransom payments to kidnappers.

“How am I going to explain to a non-Nigerian that a professor of cybersecurity and the erstwhile minister of communications and digital economy has friends who raised $50k for the purpose of ransom payment to kidnappers?” He wrote.

Also, @realdanielemeka said, “Wait I want to understand. Kidnappers raided an Estate in Abuja. Communicated their Demands. Came back to dump the bodies of those who couldn’t pay. Went back to renew communication of their demands. In Abuja??? And no one knows who they are or where they went? Haba!!!.”

Another user, @Burmese_Tyga_ wrote, “When politicians publicly involve themselves in crowdfunding ransom for kidnappers. The whole idea is not to save an individual or a family…the real sinister motive is to legitimise an already thriving criminal industry. Nigerians get ready for next level disaster.”

@Deshysmalls said, “The moment you kill hostages, you’ve lost all leverage & negotiating power. The government should wipe the floor with these Kidnappers, the body language should be NO TOLERANCE. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any real official statement addressing the situation and general insecurity

Also, @FaruqBashar wrote, “No way they are paying the N700m ransom, if they give in to that demand we are actually finished. That money will be used to expand the reach and facilities of those kidnappers, it’ll only get worse from there.”