Kidnappers Of Edo Train Passengers Demand N620m Ransom

Gunmen who struck at the Igueben Train Station in Edo State on Saturday and kidnapped 31 passengers have reportedly demanded N620 million.

This was disclosed yesterday by the executive director of Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, Comrade Benson Odia, who said the kidnappers had contacted some families of the victims and demanded N20 million for each person.

Odia described the demand as absurd and appealed to the authorities to intensify efforts at rescuing those still being held captive by the gunmen.

Meanwhile, the Edo State commissioner for information and orientation, Chris Nehikhare, has said six of the 32 persons kidnapped at the train station had been rescued.

The victims were waiting at the Ekehen-Igueben train station to board a train to Warri, Delta State at about 4.00pm when the gunmen struck.

Giving an update yesterday on the efforts to rescue the victims, Nehikhare said among the six victims rescued included a 65-year-old man, a nursing mother and her baby, a six-year-old girl and two siblings.

He said the rescue operation was carried out by a combined team of security agencies which embarked on what he termed “Operation Comb the Forest” and appealed to members of the public to give useful information that could lead to release of other captives.  

-Leadership.ng