GUNMEN, who abducted 31 Edo train passengers on Saturday have allegedly demanded N620m ransom for their release.
News Point Nigeria gathered on Monday that the terrorists had presented their demands to the families of the abductees.
The Executive Director, Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, Benson Odia, disclosed that the kidnappers were demanding N20m for each victim.
This was as the police anti-terrorism squad and the Nigerian Railway Corporation on Monday met to strategise on ways to rescue the train passengers.
Speaking with reporters stated that the demand was absurd, calling on the authorities to intensify efforts in rescuing the 31 hostages in the custody of the kidnappers.
He also said that the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo and the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidel Okhiria were at Igueben to assess the situation.
Odia said the authorities promised to deploy helicopters on Tuesday to locate where the victims were kept in the bush.
He said, “I can tell you that the kidnappers have demanded N20m, totalling N620m. This is absurd and I don’t know where poor people will be able to raise that amount of money.’’
The Edo state police spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor could not confirm the veracity of the claim.
Edo Govt Confirms Rescue Of Six Victims
However, the Edo State Government on Monday confirmed that six out of the 31 victims kidnapped at Igueben train station on Saturday have been rescued.
News Point Nigeria reports that, this was contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Communication and Strategy, Chris Nehikhare on Monday.
In the statement, he stated that “following the directive from Governor Godwin Obaseki that the kidnappers that attacked the train in Igueben on Saturday be smoked out of their hiding and the persons abducted be rescued, we are happy to announce that six (6) persons have been rescued.
“The six persons are: a 65-year-old man, a nursing mother with her baby, a 6-year-old girl and two siblings; aged two and five years old.
Minister Directs NRC To Set Up Host Community Committee
In another development, the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, has directed the management of Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) to establish a host community relations committee in all train stations across the country.
Adegoroye gave the directive in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Monday in Abuja.
The minister was quoted to have issued the directive shortly after his assessment visit to Tom Ikimi Train Station in Igueben, Edo, where some passengers were kidnapped on Saturday.
Adegoroye, who held a meeting with security operatives at the station, directed the management of the NRC to immediately establish a Nigerian Railway Corporation Host Community Relations.
According to him, the committee will help in reinforcing communal vigilance and security of the train tracks, stations and passengers all over the country.
Adegoroye said this was one of the strategic decisions arrived at the operational meeting he held with stakeholders at Igueben Station to forestall further occurrence of such dastardly act in future.