Kidnappers who abducted eight residents of Imoga in Edo North on Friday and requested a N100m ransom have reduced their demand to N40m.
The Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Abudu, revealed this during an interview on Tuesday.
The abductors had on Monday reduced the ransom from N100m to N70m.
The monarch stated that negotiations were still ongoing to further reduce the ransom to N20m.
Speaking about how the ransom would be paid, he added that all stakeholders and members of the community were prepared to gather the funds as soon as a definitive agreement was reached with the kidnappers.
He stated that the abduction of his subjects had prevented him from traveling outside of the kingdom to address urgent issues.
He said, “We have continued to negotiate with the kidnappers, and they have agreed to reduce the ransom to N40m. But we hope they can bring it down to N20m.
“Our people are on standby to raise the money for the ransom, and payment will be made as soon as the cash is complete.
“We are worried about the safety of our people, as it has been five days since they were kidnapped.”
Chronicle NG reported that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers demanded N100m for the release of eight Imoga indigenes abducted on Friday night.
Oba Abudu, speaking on the phone on Monday, claimed the victims were kidnapped at the Star Boy Hotel on the Imoga-Ibillo Road in Edo North.
He added that the victims had traveled to Ibillo for an event and decided to spend the night at the Star Boy Hotel, which is also owned by an Imoga native.
According to the monarch, the kidnappers arrived at the hotel dressed in army clothes, bringing refreshments and appearing to be waiting for someone.
He said that after a while, the kidnappers approached the motel owner and took his two phones. He further stated that they snatched the others’ phones, bound their hands, and led them into the wilderness on foot.
