By Correspondents in Okene/Lokoja
Abductors of two female students of Kogi State Polytechnic (Itakpe campus) and a non-academic staff of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) have demanded N30 million ransom to release captives.
Our Correspondent gathered that the three Victims were kidnapped on Sunday at a Living Faith Church located in Osara community, Adavi Local Governmebt Areas of Kogi state during a night rehearsal.
The names of the abducted female students were given as Christiana and Kemi from Okengwe in Okene Local Governnent Area of the state while
a staff of CUSTECH, working with the ICT department,Joseph Arome Simeon was Kidnapped with them.
The kidnappers were said to have initially demanded a ransom of N10 million to secure their release, but that after much pleading, they agreed to reduce the ranson to N1 million each.
A relative of one of the abducted students, who sought anonymity, said the kidnappers had been in touch with family members of the abducted student and varsity staff, adding that:”One of the parents begged that they accept N100,000 ransom for each of them.
“They threatened to kill the victims so we begged that they spare them while we run around to raise money, even the N100,000 is beyond my reach as a civil servant.”
The relative recalled that Kemi’s grandfather died on Monday, adding that her father had to rush to neighbouring Kwara State, leaving her mother and brother to continue with negotiations.
“We believe in God and prayers because at the moment, most of us are confused. We are still appealing to them to reduce the ransom as we prayerfully hope help will come our way to raise the ransom demanded,” he said.
In similar vein,Engr. M. Jamiu Habeeb, SA Media&Publicity to the Executive Chairman of Adavi Local Governnent Area of the state,in a statement he signed on August 30, 2021, confirmed the abduction of three of the three persons concerned in Osara.
He said: “The victims are; a staff of CUSTECH, and two students of Kogi State Polytechnic. They are all residing outside the school campus.
“The the Executive Chairman of Adavi Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Joseph Omuya, made prompt visited Osara Community to confirm the ugly incident that happened, overnight which led to the abduction of three members of the Living Faith Church.
” Hon. Joseph Omuya met with the DPO of Osara Police Division and held a closed-door meeting with him. He also visited the Vice-Chancellor of CUSTECH, to console him over the staff of the institution who was part of the abduction.
“He also visited the Ward Head of the Community and finally proceeded to the church where the incident happened.
“The Council Boss assured residents that the government is on top of the situation and urged the residents to remain calm, and stay at home late at night.
“Ever before now, we had series of meetings with the people of Osara Community and entire farm center and told them to restrict every night activity for now, and whoever that wants to hold any activity in the night should get appropriate quarters informed and also get their approval, to ensure that adequate security is provided, but out of their disobedience they choose otherwise.”
According to SA, the chairman advised the people of the area to be security-conscious and think about their own safety at all times.
“We all know the security challenges of this country, and the administration under the leadership of his Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello is doing everything humanly possible to keep Kogi State safe, protect lives and property.
” So, all hands must be on deck to strengthen the peace in our various communities”, Hon. Joseph Omuya remarked.
“Meanwhile, The pastor of the church, Pastor Gabriel, was invited by Osara Police Division for questioning.
“According to him, he was not aware of the rehearsals holding in the church as at the time they were abducted, and said all their church programmes do end at 4:00 p.m.
“I am based in Zango Danji, and we were told not to hold any late activity in the church and we’ve been abiding by it. Even as at that yesterday was Sunday, after our morning service, we closed the church, handover the key to a nearby house where we normally keep it.
“I was shocked when the information got to me, today, that three members of my church went behind to hold a night Programme without my knowledge. The church also has rules and no any member is allowed to hold any activity in the church without my permission,” Pastor Gabriel stated.
Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State collaborated the kidnap saga by that has stated the circumstances that a staff of the institution, Joseph Arome Simeon, and two students of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Itakpe Campus were abducted.
The spokesman of the University,Balogun Omeiza David, in a statement on Monday said the three Victims were kidnapped on Sunday inside the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel in the area but denied earlier media reports that the students were from the institution.
He said:“Without mincing words, there was actually a kidnapping case on Sunday 29th August at Osara, Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State around 7:30 p.m. A staff of CUSTECH working with the ICT department by the name Joseph Arome Simeon was kidnapped alongside two female students of Kogi State Polytechnic, Itakpe Campus.
“From the details made available to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Salawu Sadiku and the Information Unit of CUSTECH, the trio had gone to the Living Faith Church located in the outskirt of Osara for a voice training session only for them to be kidnapped around 7:30p.m on that fateful day.
“Further reports made available by the security agents said the kidnappers shot sporadically into the thin air before they finally abducted their victims from the Living Faith Church, Osara.
“The general public should be well informed that no student of CUSTECH, Osara was kidnapped as wrongly reported and shared widely by other news blogs.
“Also, the two female students that were kidnapped are of the neighbouring Kogi State Polytechnic, Itakpe Campus. The male staff of CUSTECH, Osara that was kidnapped is a Data Analyst and not a lecturer as wrongly reported.
“It is also of great importance for the general public to know that the Management of CUSTECH, the Security Unit and the Public Relations Unit are working hand-in-hand with security agents who are already on top of the matter.
“The public should therefore not fret over any issue of insecurity as the ivory tower is, on a daily basis, making frantic efforts to secure the students and staff under her care.”
Meanwhile, the Police Command in the State has debunked the kidnapping of some persons in Osara.
Speaking with the Correspondent of The Reporters, an online publication in Lokoja on Tuesday in a telephone interview,the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Police Command in the state, DSP William Aya said all efforts by the command to authenticate the truth about the said kidnapping could not yield fruitful results.
He said, “The command heard about the the alleged kidnapping at Osara, said to have involved some students of the Kogi State Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.
“Immediately, the information filtered into us, we dispatched our personnel to the scene of the alleged event, interviewing some residents of the area, but the people interviewed denied that such thing happened in Osara on the day in question.
“So it becomes difficult for the command to confirm that there was kidnapping in the area in question, for now, until further investigation can prove other wise,”he said.
