…1 killed for inability to meet-up demand.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Armed bandits have reportedly demanded for N500 millions from the family of a kidnapped veteran photojournalist, Malam Umar Usman Iyale, in Kaduna State.
The victim was kidnapped from his residence along with several others, in a community, popularly known as Danhonu II in Millennium City, Chikun LGA of Kaduna State, last week.
A Journalist source said the victim spoke to him in a long conversation via his phone, from bandits captivity, to tell him and his family they should bring N500 million as random.
According to the source, one of the abductees bandits victim has already been killed after paying N30 million for not being able to make it up to total amount demanded, sending fears down the spine of others.
“This people (the bandits) say I should bring N500 millions as ransom. Anything you people can contribute to help me, I will be grateful,” the source quoted Umar.
Millennium community is within the radius where two journalists and their families were abducted previously but were later released.
Both journalists and family were running around and contributing money to settle the amount demanded by the bandits, at the time of filing this reports in Kaduna.
Malam Umar, a retired staff of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Kaduna Station, and formerly of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Kaduna, was allegedly abducted from his residence at about 9:00 p.m. last Monday, according to community sources.
Residents said the gunmen carried out the operation quietly but in a coordinated manner, gaining access to the compound at a time when some members of the journalist’s family had yet to return home.
A community source said the attackers demanded money from the victim and, when he could not provide any, they forcefully whisked him away to an unknown destination.
The abduction has heightened anxiety in Danhonu II, with residents expressing concern over the safety of Malam Umar, who was described as elderly and battling health challenges.
The source further said efforts are on “top gear” to get him rescued from the kidnappers den.