Abducted Nasarawa Poly Student Released After Ransom Payment

Kidnappers have released an ND II student of the Nasarawa State-owned Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, Miss Taye Ajoke, who was kidnapped recently.

The gunmen according to sources were said to have collected the sum of N300,000 from the family of their victim, who is of the Science Laboratory Technology Department of the polytechnic.

Recall that heavily armed men had on Monday night attacked Ombi 1, a residential area for students, which is two kilometers away from the polytechnic, and whisked the student to an unknown destination after shooting indiscriminately for about an hour.

The incident left two other students and an admission seeker with bullet wounds.

They (victims with bullet wounds) were later rushed to a government hospital for treatment.

Those attacked by the bandits are an HND II student of Business Administration and Management, Freedom Luka; and a male seeking admission into the polytechnic, Danladi Nicholas.

Speaking with our Journalists in Lafia on Thursday, the President of the Students Union Government of the polytechnic, Ekom Ayaka, said Ajoke’s kidnappers had earlier called to demand for N50m but later reduced the ransom to N500,000 when they noticed that her family and well-wishers could not pay such an amount.

He, however, said after several appeals to the kidnappers for a further reduction of the ransom, they agreed that her family should pay N300,000 for her release.

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 N50m 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.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Ramhan Nansel, in a brief message to journalists in Lafia, narrated that Ajoke was released following efforts by security personnel who had been on the matter.

The message reads, “Confirmed, she was released due to sustained pressure from the search and rescue team.”

However, commenting on the claim of the Police, the SUG President said he could not categorically say that the security agencies did not make efforts on the matter, but maintained that N300,000 was paid as ransom, including N5,000 recharge card, and packs of beverages.

He said, “The police actually followed up on the matter since that Monday night. I do not know exactly the roles they played to get her released but what I can say is that N300,000 was paid to the bandits and they were also given some tea items and recharge cards of N5,000.

Yusuf Oketola