Parents resort to house-to-house begging to raise N7m ransom to free kidnapped son

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Kwara

Parents and neighbors of one of the kidnapped students along Suleja- Kaduna road have resulted to house-to-house begging to raise money to free their son who has been held captive for five days.

It would be recalled that four students of Kwara origin, AbdulRasaq Kaothar and AbdulRasaq Shakirat from Bayero University, Kano and Suleiman Muhyideen Temitope and Idris Mubarak from Federal University, Dutse in Jigawa State were kidnapped on their way home following the continuation of the strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). 

The family of one of the victims, who lives in Ilorin was contacted by the kidnappers to pay N20m ransom to free their son. This was however reduced to N7million with the intervention of an interpreter.

Westernpost gathered that the father of the victim is an artisan, while his mother sells “readymade” materials.

Speaking with Westernpost, a neighbor who did not want her name mentioned, disclosed that the parents of the victim were contacted on Friday night and told to pay the ransom today (Saturday) or their son would be killed.

According to her, the parents have not been able to raise the ransom and are now waiting for divine intervention. 

Meanwhile, the state government has called for calm on the kidnapped students.

Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Ibrahim Sulyman made the call in Ilorin, during the week as he hinted that security agents have been contacted while appropriate measures are currently being put in place to secure the release of the students.

Sulyman assured parents and guardians of the students that government is already on top of the situation. 

He further assured that the four students would soon be released unhurt as security agents are already combing Kano and Jigawa forests to locate them.