The kidnappers of two students from Kogi State University, Kabba (KSUK), have reduced their ransom demand from N50 million to N10 million for the safe release of the students.
The two students, Isaac Babalola and Joel Emmanuel Bamiyo, both from the Department of Public Administration, were abducted on Friday, August 2, 2024. Their kidnapping occurred at the same location and on the same day as the abduction of Dare Michael, the Caretaker Chairman of Kabba/Bunu Council Area, and his three aides.
While Dare Michael was released shortly after due to his inability to keep up with the kidnappers due to his health condition, the two students and the three remaining aides are still held captive.
Initially, the kidnappers demanded N100 million for the release of the chairman’s aides and later requested N50 million for the release of the students. However, the ransom demand for the students has now been reduced to N5 million each, totaling N10 million.
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One of the students' parents, Mr. Shadrach Idowu Babalola, expressed his frustration, stating that the kidnappers have been unyielding in their demands. "Every time they call and demand N50 million, we tell them we don’t have that amount, but they accuse us of not caring about our children’s lives. The last time we offered what we could afford, they bluntly told us to use the money to buy Maggi for ourselves."
Similarly, the parents of Joel Emmanuel Bamiyo shared that the kidnappers had finally reduced their demand to N5 million per student. Both families have pleaded with the state government to step in and secure the release of their children, describing the ordeal as an unbearable period of anxiety and fear.
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Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command has stated that they are unaware of the abduction of the university students. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, expressed surprise that the parents had not formally reported the incident to law enforcement.
The institution itself has remained silent on the matter, with the University’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tade Oshaloto, declining to comment when contacted.
