‘Bandits demand N10m’ for release of abductee’s corpse — after ‘N3m ransom’
Bandits have reportedly requested the family of Obadiah Ibrahim, an abductee, to pay N10 million before his corpse can be released to his family.
Obadiah was said to have died in captivity in Kaduna state a few weeks ago.
Kefas Obadiah, a brother to the victim, told The Punch that the bandits already collected N3 million ransom.
“Ibrahim had died on Monday and they informed us on Thursday. We asked for his corpse and they said we should pay them N10 million if we wanted the corpse; (that) they’d not work for us free of charge,” Kefas was quoted as saying.
Obadiah while narrating the family’s ordeal, said his brother was abducted in early October in Sabon Gaya on his way back from Abuja.
“Although I wasn’t the one communicating with the bandits, there was a negotiator. Earlier, the bandits demanded N200 million and later settled for N3 million plus,” he said.
“They said we should bring the money. After giving them the ransom, they told us the money was for their foodstuffs which got finished, and that we should go and bring N15 million.
“They later came down to N5 million and three motor bikes, and later collected one bike. After collecting a bike, we didn’t hear from them again. We tried to communicate with them but unfortunately, we were unable (to).
“Then, on Thursday, when the negotiator called them, they said our brother was dead. We thought they were joking. When we continued, they threatened to track him and come for him if (he) did not stop calling their line.
“They said their own men were arrested by (the) police, tied to a tree and killed. So, they vented their anger too on our brother because of what police did to their brother.
“The bandits also said ‘Allah’ (swearing in the name of God), if we brought the money, they’d release the corpse in three days.”
