Woman Reunites With Family After Payment of 20,000,000 million naira Ransom As Abductors Contact Others

Barely a week after unknown gunmen kidnapped a 16-seater bus with passengers along the Benin-Auchi road into a nearby forest, confirmed report emerged that families of the kidnapped victims have been contacted for payment of ransom.

As families of the kidnapped victims who were abducted along the Benin-Auchi road on January 5th 2021 make frantic efforts to secure the release of the victims in captivity, a family in Benin City recently paid the sum of twenty million naira(20,000,000 million naira) to secure the release of their daughter.

It was gathered that the family of one Hope Osarenkhoemwen Agho who was among the 16 passengers kidnapped on January 5th 2021 was able to secure her release 3 days after they were kidnapped.

Her release is coming upon the payment of twenty million naira ransom (20,000,000 million naira) to the unknown gunmen who earlier demanded for the payment of hundred million naira ( 100,000,000 million naira) as ransom.

Recall that on January 5th 2021, a 16-seater bus with passengers was abducted and all occupants ordered into a nearby forest by unknown gunmen along the Benin-Auchi road in Edo State.

The family of one of the 16 passengers identified as Hope Osarenkhoemwen Agho, according to a source in Iguikpe community in Useh quarters in Edo State, was recently contacted to pay up 100,000,000 million naira as ransom to secure her release from captivity.

“But 20,000,000 naira was eventually paid for her release after several pleas by the family.” a family source added.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that families of other passengers who also include Jude Bawo, Anita Osaro, Uyi Omoregbee, Michael Ugiagbe, Joe Osadolor and Jimoh Odeh have also been contacted by the unknown gunmen for payment of outrageous ransom ranging from 100,000,000 to the tune of 150,000,000 naira as ransom.

The families of Femi Bello, Braimoh Jimoh, Fatima Aliu, Sule Ramoni, Tijani Osamudiamen, Tony Adichie, Williams Atoe, Marcus Wealth among others have also been contacted by the unknown gunmen, it was confirmed.

Our correspondent gathered that barely a week after the passengers were kidnapped on the Benin-Auchi road and ordered into a nearby forest, communication was immediately established between the families of the kidnapped victims and the unknown gunmen within 3 days after the incident.

The Benin-Auchi road in recent times has been notoriously characterized by all forms of criminality ranging from kidnapping, highway-robbery , murder, rape and armed robbery as records of deaths and casualties from unresolved murder cases and inability to pay ransom to kidnappers continue to increase within the enclave.

Further investigation by our correspondent revealed that some victims held in captivity within different camps in the forest were ruthlessly murdered over the inability of their relatives to pay ransom to the unknown gunmen to secure their release.

It was however gathered that Hope Osarenkhoemwen Agho, who regained freedom after payment of 20,000,000 million naira as ransom, reunited with her family in Iguikpe community.

She was kidnapped along with others in a 16-seater bus by unknown gunmen while traveling on the Benin-Auchi road on January 5th 2021.

Meanwhile, another family whose son was among the kidnapped victims have also hinted that they have been told to pay the sum of 150,000,000 ransom to secure the release of Braimoh Jimoh who is still in captivity with others but negotiations said to be ongoing, it was confirmed.