Despite efforts of security agencies with support from the Edo State government, some family members of victims of the recent kidnap of passengers and other people at the Igueben train station in Edo State said they paid money to the kidnapers before their relations were set free.
Security agencies and the state government had said at different times that no money was paid to free the victims.
But a relation of one victim who gave her name as Favour from Ebudin in Esan Central local government area whose elder sister was abducted in the attack while narrating her experience yesterday said; “It was not easy for us. The kidnaped person is my elder sister and stays in Warri, Delta State with her family.
“When I first heard of the incident, I almost collapsed because we have been traveling but with the spate of kidnappings, we felt we were not secured and we started using the train and this kidnap happened.
“The kidnappers called my brother, they were asking for a ransom of N20 million and my brother told them we don’t have such money, they were talking on phone, but we gave them N2 million and I thank God they were released.
“Government needs to increase security in that area because the railway is cheaper for us as a means of transportation and it is okay for traveling but we need security. I thank God but I want the government to do more on security.”
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