On Monday, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, and the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidel Okhiria, visited the Igueben train station to assess the situation.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The kidnappers of 31 Edo train passengers on Saturday have allegedly demanded N620m ransom for their release, according to an activist.
Executive Director, Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, Benson Odia, said the kidnappers made their demands on Monday and that they want N20 million for each victim.
“I can tell you that the kidnappers have demanded N20m, totalling N620m. This is absurd and I don’t know where poor people will be able to raise that amount of money,” he told PUNCH.
But the spokesman of Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, could not confirm it.
Odia’s claim came before the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed that six victims had been rescued out of 31.
The commissioner said in a statement, “Following the directive from Governor Godwin Obaseki that the kidnappers that attacked the train in Igueben on Saturday be smoked out of their hiding and the persons abducted be rescued, we are happy to announce that six persons have been rescued.
“The six persons are a 65-year-old man, a nursing mother and her baby, a six-year-old girl and two siblings; aged two and five years old.
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“We commend the efforts of the rescue team in the bushes and their support staff that have been working tirelessly since the incident occurred to ensure the kidnapped passengers are rescued and reunited with their families.
“We are confident that the other victims will be rescued soon as the highly motivated security personnel are in high spirits and have doubled down on the hot chase of the kidnappers.’’
“As events unfold in the bushes, be assured that we will keep you posted and we crave the support of all stakeholders, particularly the media, to stay with the facts and avoid sensational reports that could further inflict emotional pain on the families and friends of the victims who are already in distress. Operation Bush Combing continues,” Nehikhare added.
On Monday, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, and the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidel Okhiria, visited the Igueben train station to assess the situation.