Gunmen suspected to be bandits had recently kidnapped the retired colonel and his two children along Gusau-Tsafe road in Zamfara State.
The abductors of a retired colonel, Rabiu Yandoto and his two children have demanded for N50million ransom for the release.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits had recently kidnapped the retired colonel and his two children along Gusau-Tsafe road in Zamfara State.
The retired colonel was said to be going back to his hometown together with his children, when they were ambushed by terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, and taken to the forest.
However, one of Yandoto’s relations told Punch that the bandits called him and demanded N50 million ransom.
He said that the money had been reduced to N5 million, following series of negotiations between the bandits and the family.
“They called me three days ago and told me that we should bring the sum of N50 million if we want Colonel Yandoto and his children to be released.
“But after negotiations, they said we should bring N5million. We thought he was dead because we suspected that he was abducted by assassins for political reasons.
“We are trying to gather the amount through donation from family and friends,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the state Police Command, SP Mohammed Shehu, said he was not aware of the money demanded by the bandits.
He said; “The state police command under the leadership of CP Kolo Yusuf is making frantic efforts to rescue col Yandoto and his children.
“I am not aware of the amount demanded by the bandits for the release of the retired Colonel.
“All I know is that the command, under the table leadership of CP Kolo Yusuf is doing its best to rescue him.”