Kidnappers demand N50m ransom for Kogi University students

Kidnappers of two Kogi State University students have demanded a ransom of N50 million for their release.

 

The students were abducted on August 2, 2024, at the same location where the Caretaker Chairman of Kabba/Bunu Council area, Dare Michael, and his three aides were taken.

While the Chairman, Michael was released due to health issues, the three aides and two students remain in captivity.

Initially, the kidnappers demanded N100 million for the chairman's aides, and now they are seeking N50 million for the students.

A parent of one of the students, Mr. Shadrach Idowu Babalola, expressed concern that the kidnappers are insisting on their demand, saying "Whenever they call, they ask for N50 million, and when we say we don't have that amount, they tell us we're not serious about our children's lives."

His son, Isaac Babalola, a Public Administration student, has been held captive for a week.

“The last time they called and we told them what we could afford, they told us point blank to take the money and buy Maggi to make soup for ourselves.”

The parent of Joel Emmanuel Bamiyo also a student of the public administration department at Kogi State University, Kabba said the abductors have reduced their demand from 50m to 5m each for the two students making 10 million naira before they will be released.

Both parents urged the state government to intervene in the situation and help secure the release of their children, stressing that they have been living in apprehension since the ugly incident.

Meanwhile, the Kogi Police Command said they are not aware that students of the institution were among those abducted.

The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, when contacted wonders why the parents of the students had yet to make a formal report to the security operatives.

Also, the institution has refused to make a formal statement about the abduction of its students.

The Institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Tade Oshaloto when contacted declined to comment on the issue.