Gunmen who kidnapped no fewer than 31 Edo train passengers on Saturday have reportedly demanded N620m ransom for their release.
Reports say that the criminals had presented their demands to the families of the abductees.
The Executive Director, Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, Benson Odia, disclosed that the kidnappers were demanding N20m for each victim.
This was as the police anti-terrorism squad and the Nigerian Railway Corporation on Monday met to strategise on ways to rescue the train passengers.
He said, “I can tell you that the kidnappers have demanded N20m, totalling N620m. This is absurd and I don’t know where poor people will be able to raise that amount of money,” he said.
However, the Edo state police spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor could not confirm the veracity of the claim.
The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed that six victims had been rescued, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining 26 victims.
The commissioner in a statement noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki had given directives that the criminals should be arrested.
