Abductors of Nasarawa State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Lawal Yakubu have reportedly slashed the ransom demamd for his release to N20 million.
Recall that Lawal was kidnapped at his residence in Nasarawa Eggon, the headquarters of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state gunmen on Monday.
Two days before the commissioner was abducted, a staff member of the Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Nasarawa Eggon LGA, Auta Nasela, was Killed by gunmen at the staff quarters while another staff member sustained injuries.
Daily Trust gathered that four Special Forces from Doma Barracks, the headquarters of Doma LGA of the state, had been deployed in Nasarawa Eggon.
A member of the family, who pleaded for anonymity, told our correspondent that the abductors contacted the family at about 10:30am on Thursday and demanded N20 million ransom.
He, however, stated that the family offered to pay the Kidnappers N4.5 million, but the abductors rejected the offer and switched off their mobile line angrily.
He said, “The abductors called the family members exactly 10:30am on Thursday and slashed the ransom from N100 million to N20 million.”
The state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, had recently ordered the closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the 13 local government areas of the state following intelligence by security agencies in the state.
Similarly, the National Orientation Agency had raised alarm that bandits were recruiting child soldiers in Nasarawa State.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer DSP Rahman Nansel, said a combined detachment of the Police Mobile Force, the anti-kidnapping unit, military personnel, vigilantes, including the local hunters were combing the entire area to rescue the abducted commissioner.
