Suspected Herdsmen Kidnap Three In Kogi, Demands N1.2m Ransom

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have kidnapped two staff of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and a resident within the steel plant in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi state. 

It was gathered that the incident happened on Tuesday close to the company staff quarter SAE (Calabar quarters) as the suspected herdsmen ambushed their victims with sophisticated weapons and forced them into the bush.  

The incident, according to residents in the area, had since thrown many staff living within the steel plant quarters into panick. 

The two kidnapped staff of the company were simply identified as Austin and Prince. A family source told our reporter on Friday the kidnappers have contacted the victims’ families, demanding N1.2 million as ransom for their release. 

A source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said: “They are four individuals that went to a nearby mountain close to SAE here in Calabar quarters to observe prayers. 

“All of a sudden, we heard that some herdsmen who were fully armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons kidnapped them into an unknown destination.

“We knew him that he has health issues and he was falling down repeatedly that was why they had to let him go while other were taken into the bush. “As I speak, the kidnappers are demanding for N1.2 million. Where will they get such money in this hard time? 

“The kidnapped victims are just managing to feed themselves and their families. 

They are just using farm work to support their current job. With the recent development many residents are now scared of going to the farm because of the fear of the unknown.”

When contacted, Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, said that the command was yet to get official information about the incident. He, however, promised to get back to our correspondent when he must have contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ajaokuta.