Families of the kidnapped five pupils and four staff members of the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, Ekiti State, have called for financial support following the refusal of the gunmen to receive a N10 million ransom.
The gunmen on Friday insisted on getting N15 million as ransom to secure the abductees’ release from their den.
It will be recalled that the gunmen launched an attack on the bus conveying the victims back to their homes at Eporo on the road and whisked nine of the occupants away to an unknown destination on Monday.
On Tuesday, they contacted the family of one of the parents, demanding N10 million in ransom for each of the nine people. But later increased the ransom to N15 million on Friday.
They also told the parents that they should pay the ransom on time because the children were already weak, threatening to kill them if their families delayed paying the ransom for their release.
According to the proprietor of the school, Pastor Gabriel Adesanya, who confirmed the ransom on Friday evening, “The development is that they (kidnappers) are demanding a ransom of N15 million. Between yesterday (Thursday) and now (Friday), they are still insisting on the N15 million ransom.”
A family source, who preferred anonymity, said, “The families of the abductees are looking for money. On Thursday, they offered N4 million 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 a 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.”
