In a brazen daylight attack, a group of unknown gunmen kidnapped two landlords in the Asokoro neighborhood of Abuja on Sunday, later contacting the victims’ families to demand a N20 million ransom payment.
The two victims, whose names have not been released, were taken from their homes in the Asokoro Extension area, according to a report by the Punch.
According to the report, the armed men pointed a gun at one of the landlords in the area whom they used to gain access to a victim.
A resident of the area who simply identified himself as James told our correspondent that the other victim was making his way into his house when he was whisked away by the armed men.
“It happened around 11pm on Sunday.” james said, as reported by the punch.
“Because of the heat, one of the landlords slept outside. They saw him and pointed a gun to his head. They asked him to take them to his house, and he showed them but they were not satisfied with the kind of house he lives in.
“There were other big houses next to his house. So, they went with him and asked him to knock on the gate of one of the houses. When he knocked, as a well-known neighbour, the gate was opened for him. That was how they accessed the man’s house and kidnapped him.
“It happened around 11pm on Sunday. Because of the heat, one of the landlords slept outside. They saw him and pointed a gun to his head. They asked him to take them to his house, and he showed them but they were not satisfied with the kind of house he lives in.
“There were other big houses next to his house. So, they went with him and asked him to knock on the gate of one of the houses. When he knocked, as a well-known neighbour, the gate was opened for him. That was how they accessed the man’s house and kidnapped him.
“The second landlord had issues with his car and came home with a motorcycle. He was about to enter his house when they attacked him and whisked him away.”
It is believed they later contacted the families of the kidnapped men to make the ransom demand.
James added, “Two hours after their operation, they called the two families to pay N10m each. One of the families pleaded to pay N2m and assured them that they would get it almost immediately, but they rejected and instead threatened to kill him if the N10m is not complete.”
According to the punch, the Asokoro Commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Mohammed Seidu, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, adding that effort was ongoing with the police to rescue the victims.
“Policemen attached to the Asokoro Police Station are aware of the matter. We have been combing the nearby bushes to see if we can rescue them,” he said.
Kidnappings for ransom have become an unfortunate common occurrence in many parts of Nigeria. Poverty and unemployment have led some to turn to crime out of desperation.
