Abductors of two nurses of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), have demanded N17 million ransom for their release.
The nurses, who were identified as Osemelu Lydia and Ovbiosu Bose, were abducted last Wednesday at Oluku in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State on their way home, after picking up their children from school.
The abductors were said to have contacted the relatives of the victims and demanded N15 million for their release.
UBTH branch Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Austin Osigbeme, who confirmed the development yesterday said the kidnappers had started negotiation with the families of the victims, adding that they had been in pain since the nurses were abducted.
“They have not released them; they are asking for ransom. They started with N15 million and N2 million but have reduced it to N1 million.
“But these are poor people that have no money to pay and that is why we are having that delay. They (families) have been apprehensive and having feelings of uncertainty, not sure of what is happening to their wives and sisters,” he said, explaining that the nurses proposed strike had been shelved because, “we will not allow people to force us to behave in the way that they want us to behave.”
In a related development, gunmen have abducted a lecturer of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Dr. Reginald Ohiri.
The kidnappers had already established contact with the victim’s family and demanded N2 million ransom.
Dr. Ohiri is a lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry.
Daily Sun gathered that the gunmen stormed the victim’s residence in Aluu community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
A source who simply identified himself simply as Peter, said the yet-to-be identified gunmen arrived the lecturer’s residence early morning of Monday.
Peter said the bandits broke into the lecturer’s apartment and forced him into a waiting vehicle and zoomed off.
UNIPORT spokesman, Dr. William Wodi, confirmed the incident while Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Nnamdi Omoni could not confirm the development at the time of filing the report.
SUN NEWS
