The abductors of a National Diploma student of the Nasarawa State-owned Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, Taye Ajoke, have freed her after a ransom of N300,000 was paid.
Ajoke was abducted on Monday after heavily armed men while shooting sporadically attacked her residence, Ombi 1, which is two kilometres away from the Polytechnic, and took her to an unknown destination.
Two other students and an admission seeker were left with bullets wounds after the attack.
The President of the Students Union Government of the polytechnic, Ekom Ayaka, who spoke on the development on Thursday said the abductors reduced the ransom from N50 million to N500,000 when they noticed that the victim’s family and well wishers could not meet up with the amount.
He added that after several appeals to the kidnappers for a further reduction of the ransom, they agreed to release her in exchange for N300,000.
He said, “We are grateful to God that Ajoke has been released by the bandits. She was released around 7pm on Wednesday after a ransom of N300,000 was paid.
“The kidnappers first wanted N50million but they later reduced the money to N500,000 when they understood that her family and friends will not be able to get such an amount.
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“But after much appeal to them (kidnappers), they told her family to pay the sum of N300,000 that was in their possession. That was how she was released from captivity.”
Earlier, one of the occupants of the rented hostel, Love and Peace Lodge, which is located outside the school premises where Ajoke was abducted by the bandits, stated that her abductors had called to demand a N50m ransom.
The source narrated that the gunmen placed a call to Ajoke’s phone on Tuesday morning and demanded for the money, adding that the bandits did not listen to their appeal when they narrated that they were students and had no money to pay for the ransom.
The source said, “It took the police over one hour to get here. By that time, the gunmen had already taken Ajoke away through a bush road. When the police arrived, they helped in rushing the three wounded people to the hospital for treatment.
“They actually sustained gunshot wounds, and are presently receiving treatment in a government hospital. But today (Tuesday), at exactly 7am, we got a call from the kidnappers. They called through Ajoke’s phone that is with us, and they are demanding for N50m to release her from captivity.
“We pleaded with them to understand that we do not have money as we were still in school, but they didn’t agree with our appeal. Instead, they demanded that we call them back when we are ready to discuss the matter.”