Fides Media Living the Faith
By Gloria Ibesi
Some passengers travelling from Anambra to Abuja on Thursday, 3 August 2023, were reportedly kidnaped by some unknown group who demanded the sum of 10 million Naira for their release.
The incident which took place along Kogi-Abuja Express Way, as the victims were on their way to Abuja aboard Anambra Executive Motors, had up to three people, allegedly travelling in the same vehicle, in the kidnapper’s net.
Among the victims of the kidnap were a finalist student of Odimegwu Ojukwu University, Awka Anambra State, Miss Angel Efobi, and a fresh graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Miss Gift Efobi, who are sisters and another former student and emeritus SUG Vice president of NnamdiAzikiwe University Awka, identified as Queen Chikwendu.
The incident was first made known to the public by some friends of one of the victims who is a former NAU SUG Exco, when they made a post on some social media platforms, announcing her abduction and soliciting for donations from the public to generate the 10 million Naira ransom for her release as the kidnappers threatened to kill her after 48 hours if the money was not deposited.
The news of the kidnap of the two sisters was also broken in a social media platform of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University student, ANSU Gossip Mil, where it was revealed that the two sisters who were also traveling to Abuja on the same day were also abducted at the same location and the same price demanded for their release. This however led to assumption that the three victims were supposedly travelling in the same vehicle and were abducted together by the same group.
It was later revealed by a source who contacted the father of the two sisters that the kidnappers reduced the ransom for the two sisters to 15 million Naira, upon realizing that they were sisters.
Fides gathered that while friends and relatives of the victims were praying for their safety and running around to realize money to pay the ransom, the abductors on Sunday, 6, August, reduced the ransom to 5 million even as they promised the victims’ safe return.
The source who has been in constant communication with the father of the two abducted sisters, revealed that on Monday, 7 August, the father of the two sisters proceeded to kogi State with the ransom, to rescue his daughters who were later released alongside the other victim on the same day at 10. 42pm.