Ekiti pupils’ kidnappers insist on N15m, parents source for funds

Gunmen who kidnapped five pupils and four staff members of the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, Ekiti State on Friday insisted on getting N15m as ransom to secure the abductees’ release from their den.

The gunmen had on Monday attacked a bus conveying the schoolchildren and employees of the school back to their homes at Eporo on the road and whisked nine among the occupants away to an unknown destination.

But when they contacted the family of one of the parents on Tuesday, the kidnappers were said to have demanded N10m ransom for each of the nine persons held captive in their den.

The kidnappers, who, however, reduced the ransom to N15m for all the abductees on Friday, were said to have told the parents that they should pay the ransom on time because the children were already weak.

They threatened to kill the hostages if their families delayed paying the ransom for their release.

The proprietor of the school, Pastor Gabriel Adesanya, on Friday evening, said, “The development is that they (kidnappers) are demanding ransom; N15m. Between yesterday (Thursday) and now (Friday), they are still insisting on N15m ransom.”

A family source, who preferred anonymity, said, “The families of the abductees are looking for money. On Thursday, they offered N4m to the abductees which they rejected.

 “The kidnappers are insisting on N15m. Everybody is worried especially with their threat on Thursday that the families should not delay with the ransom so that they would not kill the victims, adding that the children are already weak.

“The families had tasked themselves and there was contribution in Eporo, but the money gathered is still a far-cry. What is needed right now is support. I will, on behalf of the families and the hostages, especially the children, appeal to the federal and state governments and all well-meaning Nigerians to come to our aid so that they can be released,” the source said.