The abductors of a former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Professor Onje Gye- Wado, have demanded N70 million ransom before he would be released.
A family source who is monitoring the development said in Lafia on Saturday that the kidnappers placed a call for the first time since the abduction of the Professor on Friday.
According to the source, the family members are pleading with the abductors to accept N2 million instead of the N70 million that was requested because of the unavailability of cash occasioned by the Easter holiday.
“The kidnappers are in touch with the family of Professor and they have demanded the sum of N70 million, but we are appealing that they should collect N2 million because we cannot raise anything more than that due to the public holidays declared by the Federal Government for the Easter celebration,” the source said.
The former deputy governor was kidnapped by gunmen who allegedly invaded his community, Gwagi, in the Wamba Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Friday.
A family source who confirmed the incident said the kidnappers gained entrance through the fence, broke into the house through his wife’s window and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
“His wife came in for Easter celebration and they broke into the house through her widow and took him away to an unknown destination. We are hoping that the security agencies will make efforts towards rescuing him unhurt,” the source said.
Professor Onje Gye-Wado, who served as Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State between 1999 and 2003, had escaped being kidnapped on several occasions before the sad incident occurred on Friday.
Confirming the kidnap of the former deputy governor in a statement made available to newsmen in Lafia on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said the police command was making efforts to rescue him unhurt.
He said, “Information received by the command indicated that on 7/4/2023 around 12:30 am, unknown gunmen invaded Gwagi village in Wamba LGA, broke into the residence of one Prof. Onje Gye-wado and abducted him to an unknown destination.
“Upon receipt of the information, Police operatives attached to Wamba Division swiftly moved to the scene, but the hoodlums had fled with the victim before their arrival.
“The Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Baba, further mobilised and deployed reinforcement comprising Police tactical teams, military, vigilante, and local hunters to complement the ongoing search to rescue the hostage, hale and hearty and arrest the perpetrators of the act.”
The police spokesperson further appealed to members of the public to assist the command with useful information that could help in the quick rescue of the former deputy governor.
