In a report by The Punch, bandits have demanded N10 million as ransom before releasing the corpse of one of their victims, Obadiah Ibrahim, who they kidnapped a few weeks ago in Kaduna State.
Brother to the victim, Kefas Obadiah, said the bandits had collected N3 million but still refused to release the corpse of the victim abducted in October.
“Ibrahim had died on Monday and they informed us on Thursday. We asked for his corpse and they said we should pay them N10 million if we wanted the corpse, (that) they’d not work for us free of charge,” he said.
Obadiah while narrating the family ordeal, added, “My brother’s name is Obadiah Ibrahim. He was kidnapped in early October…in Sabon Gaya on his way back from Abuja to Kaduna.
“Although I wasn’t the one communicating with the bandits, there was a negotiator. Earlier, the bandits demanded N200 million and later settled for N3 million plus.
“They said we should bring the money. After giving them the ransom, they told us the money was for their foodstuffs which got finished, and that we should go and bring N15 million.
“They later came down to N5 million and three motor bikes, and later collected one bike. After collecting a bike, we didn’t hear from them again. We tried to communicate with them but unfortunately, we were unable (to).
“Then, on Thursday, when the negotiator called them, they said our brother was dead. We thought they were joking. When we continued, they threatened to track him and come for him if (he) did not stop calling their line.
“They said their own men were arrested by (the) police, tied to a tree and killed. So, they vented their anger too on our brother because of what police did to their brother.
“The bandits also said ‘Allah’, (swearing in the name of God that) if we brought the money they’d release the corpse in three days.”
This is a testament of the abject state of security in Nigeria.
