Kaduna resident Yunusa Adamu’s fears were confirmed on Wednesday evening when the kidnappers of his four children called to demand N300 million ransom for their release. The abductors have threatened to kill the youngest child because of his cries.
Although the kidnappers did not state the time, they wanted Adamu to provide the money on Thursday.
Adamu, based in Keke A, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna, had earlier told FIJ how he suspected that the children, who went missing while he was out on Tuesday night, might have been abducted by kidnappers.
He had gone to the hospital on Tuesday to check on his wife and their twin babies who were on admission. On his way back, he stopped by his fish farm to feed the fish which had not eaten all day.
READ MORE: 4 Children Vanish From Kaduna Home, Parents Fear Kidnapping
Adamu said his fish farm was just a few minutes away from his house.
By the time he returned home at night, his four older children, aged 14, 12, 9 and about 2, were nowhere to be found.
Although the kidnappers did not make any contact until Wednesday evening, he had reasons to believe the children were kidnapped. One, the children’s toilet door had been broken down with force. “I think the children ran to the toilet to hide, and the kidnappers used force to break it down,” he had told FIJ on Wednesday.
Also, he and concerned neighbours, who made efforts to check around the community for hours, found the children’s shoes in a gutter in front of the house.
The police, military and vigilantes were promptly notified about the suspected kidnapping.
Adamu told FIJ on Thursday morning that the kidnappers called him the previous day with the children’s phone, which they had taken along. He said he was able to speak with his eldest child.
READ ALSO: DETAILS: Ex-Editor, Family Paid N1m per Captive Before Kidnappers Released Them
“They allowed me to speak with the eldest one. They are fine, but they are not feeding them. They did not feed them and they did not give them water. They threatened to kill them with hunger,” Adamu told FIJ.
He said the kidnappers also threatened to kill the youngest child, a toddler less than two years old.
“They said he’s disturbing them with cries. So, instead of hunger to kill him, they will kill him themselves so that the crying will stop,” the father revealed.
“They said today is the deadline for payment. I have pleaded with them to let me gather all my assets and see what I can raise. I have contacted friends and family members to see what I can gather then we will negotiate more. Though they said today (Thursday) is the deadline, they did not give me a specific time.
“I have been praying because the line is switched off. I have been waiting for them to call back so that we will talk more.”
FIJ could not reach Mansir Hassan, the State Police public relations officer, for comments on Wednesday as his call went unanswered. He had also not responded to the text and WhatsApp messages sent to him at press time.
Abimbola Abatta is a reporter with FIJ, writing reports in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on undercovered issues around the globe.
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