Kidnappers who abducted a vigilante member, his wife, and 12 other residents of Janjala community in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State have demanded ₦1 million for each of the 14 victims.
The new demand came after the victims’ families had earlier given the kidnappers food supplies and ₦500,000 in cash in an attempt to secure their release.
Community sources said the gunmen first asked the families to bring food before they would talk about ransom. They claimed the victims were starving.
The kidnappers asked for items such as bags of rice, maize, guinea corn, palm oil, and cartons of spaghetti and seasoning cubes.
After receiving the food and the ₦500,000 payment, the kidnappers contacted the families again. They then demanded ₦1 million for each of the 14 victims.
The gunmen abducted the victims during an attack on the community. They stormed the village, fired shots, overpowered local vigilantes, and took several residents into nearby forests.
Residents say security forces are searching the surrounding forests. However, the kidnappers still hold the victims as negotiations continue.
