From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Barely few days aftermath the release of three Victims by kidnappers within Anyigba and Okabo axis in the Eastern flank of the state, after payment of undisclosed amount of ransom, two staff of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, (ASCL), and a resident within the steel plant have again been kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Tuesday close to the company’s SAE Calabar quarters as the suspected Fulani herdsmen allegedly ambushed their victims with sophisticated weapons and Whisked them away to unknown destination.
The incident, according to sources had since thrown their neighbours and many staffs leaving within the steel plant in fears.
It was reliably gathered that the suspected herdsmen’s numbering about five kidnapped about four victims but sympathetically release one, based on health ground and old age.
A family source who identified the Company staff members as Austin and Prince, told our correspondent on Friday that the kidnappers were in contact with their victims families, demanding for the sum of N1.2Million before effecting their release.
“They were four individuals that went to a nearby mountain, close to SAE in Calabar quarters to observe prayers. All of a sudden, we heard that suspected Fulani herdsmen fully armed with guns, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons alledgedly kidnapped them”.
Our sources further revealed that “four persons were kidnapped, but the bandits had to release one sympathetically because of old age as he could not move faster like the three others. We knew him that he has health issues, and he was falling down repeatedly that might have necessitated his release while others were taken into the bush.”
“As I Speak to you, the kidnappers are demanding for N1.2Million. Where will they get such amount of money in this hard time?”
According to anonymous sources,
“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.”
“Me that I am giving you this information, my farm produce has been stolen by this Fulani herders . They enter into peoples farm, harvest what they did not plant, if you are there, it is either you get killed or run away for your life. We have been living in fear. Things is currently getting out of hand due to the recent ugly development happening with the residents of the steel plant” he added.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, William Aya told our correspondent that the command is yet to receive official report about the reported kidnap, promising to get back to our correspondent as soon as he contact the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO), in Ajaokuta.
