Kidnappers of 45 passengers in Orokam demand N135m ransom

The kidnappers responsible for the abduction of 45 passengers in Orokam, along the Enugu-Otukpo road, have initiated negotiations with the families of the victims for their safe release.

IDOMA VOICE reports that the incident occurred when armed men ambushed three fully loaded 15-seater commercial buses in Orokam, located in the Ogbadigbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

The assailants, heavily armed, reportedly emerged from nearby forests and compelled the drivers at gunpoint to pull over.

A manager from one of the commercial transportation companies at the bustling Wurumum Park, speaking anonymously, revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded a steep N15 million ransom for each passenger.

However, negotiations ensued, ultimately leading to a settlement of N3 million for each of the abducted passengers.

Families of the victims have been actively seeking information and contact with the kidnappers. Some relatives visited the transportation company to inquire about details and potential communication with the abductors. The manager clarified that their company was not involved in the criminal act.

The families, in their desperate attempt to secure the release of their loved ones, claimed to have reached agreements with the kidnappers.

However, complications arose during the process of resolving how the negotiated N3 million ransom would be sent, Vanguard reports.

The phone line connecting the families and the kidnappers reportedly went off, leaving the families in a state of uncertainty and frustration.

In response to the unfolding situation, it appears that the families have been moving from one park to another, investigating the companies associated with the buses involved in the tragic incident.