Two visually impaired persons have reportedly been abducted by suspected gunmen in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, with their abductors allegedly demanding N50 million ransom for their release.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the victims were said to be members of the Nigeria Association for the Blind in Plateau State and were among a delegation that travelled from Jos to Benue State to attend a programme.
A member of the association, Ishaya Ayuba Danjatau, who confirmed the incident to VANGUARD said the victims were abducted on Monday night while returning to Jos after receiving information that the programme had been postponed.
Danjatau said the delegation had reached Akwanga when they received the information, prompting them to abandon the trip and return to Jos.
He said, “It is true. Our colleagues were kidnapped on Monday night on their way back from Akwanga to Jos.”
“They were going for a programme in Benue State, but while they were around Akwanga, they received a call that the programme had been postponed.
“So, they decided to return to Jos instead of proceeding. It was on their way back, around Riyom Local Government Area, that the incident happened.”
On the reported ransom demand, Danjatau said the abductors had contacted a person who was communicating with them on behalf of the victims.
He said, “They made contact around 7am on Tuesday, using one of the victims’ phones to communicate, and demanded N50 million ransom for their release.”
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain further details from the Police Public Relations Officer Plateau State Command SP Alfred Alabo was unsuccessful at the time of filling this report.
