3 kidnapped farmers in Abaji set free after N.7m ransom

Three farmers abducted by unknown gunmen in Abaji have been set free after alleged payment of N700,000 cash. The three farmers, Mohammed, Salisu and Gimba, were said to have been kidnapped by suspected gunmen while in a farm near Abaji General Hospital last week Tuesday. A relative of one of the victims, who preferred anonymity, […]

Three farmers abducted by unknown gunmen in Abaji have been set free after alleged payment of N700,000 cash.

The three farmers, Mohammed, Salisu and Gimba, were said to have been kidnapped by suspected gunmen while in a farm near Abaji General Hospital last week Tuesday.

A relative of one of the victims, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the release of the farmers to our reporter over the yesterday.

He said the kidnappers had earlier demanded for N5 million, but that after extensive negotiations, they agreed to collect N700,000, adding that the owner of the farm who is a prominent public figure and a native of Abaji, paid the ransom.

He said the victims were set free at about 2am at the edge of a thick forest near Yewuti village in Kwali area council, where they were believed to have been held captive.

“It was about 2am on Thursday when a call came in that they have been released and some vigilantes were mobilized to take them from the bush back to Abaji, “ he said.

Our reporter gathered that the gunmen had wanted to abduct the owner of the farm but when they missed him, they abduct the three men who were working on the farm.  

When contacted, the spokesman of the FCT police command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, confirmed the release of the three abducted farmers but denied knowledge of payment of ransom to the kidnappers.