The abductors of two students of Kogi State University, Kabba have reduced their ransom demand to N50m for their release.

The students were kidnapped on August 2, 2024, at the same spot, and the same day the Caretaker Chairmen of the Kabba/Bunu Council area, Dare Micheal, and his three aides were abducted.

While the Caretaker Chairman, Zacheous Dare was released due to ill health that prevented him from trekking at the same pace as the abductors, the other three aides and the two students were whisked away to an unknown destination.

The kidnappers had on Monday requested N100m ransom to release the kidnapped students, but have now reduced their demand to N50m.

One of the parents of the abducted students, Shadrach Babalola, said his son, Isaac Babalola, a Public Administration student, had been with the kidnappers for a week now.

He said the kidnappers have been adamant about their demands, saying “Anytime they (kidnappers) called and ask for N50m and we tell them we don’t have such amount, they tell us we are not serious about the lives of our wards.

“The last time they called, we told them what we could afford and they told us point blank to take the money and buy seasoning to make soup for ourselves.”

But the parent of another victim, Joel Bamiyo, who is also a public administration student, said the abductors had reduced their demand from N50m to N5m each for the two students making N10m before they will be released.

Both parents begged the state government to intervene in the situation and help secure the release of their children, stressing that they have been living in apprehension since the ugly incident.

Meanwhile, the Kogi Police Command said they were not aware that students of the institution were among those abducted.

The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, when contacted wondered why the parents of the students had yet to make a formal report to the security operatives.

Also, the institution has refused to make a formal statement about the abduction of its students.

The Institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tade Oshaloto, when contacted, declined to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command has confirmed the release of the abducted ex-Rep member, Joan Onyemaechi.

Onyemaechi was abducted on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in her church located off DBS Road, Asaba the Delta State capital after killing a police orderly and her driver.

Confirming her statement on Saturday morning, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Bright Edafe said she was released on Friday night.

He said, “Yes, she was released last night.”

PUNCH