According to the source, the victims were engaged in an ongoing construction project at the time of the attack.
Suspected terrorists who abducted seven construction workers in Oba community, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded a ransom of N500 million for their release.
A source in one of the victims’ families told SaharaReporters on Wednesday evening that the kidnappers made contact and insisted on the payment of N500 million before the workers could regain their freedom.
The victims, who are construction workers engaged on a project in the area, were recently seized by armed men during an attack in Oba community, throwing their families and residents into fear and uncertainty.
“The kidnappers have reached out and demanded N500 million for the release of the seven construction workers,” the source said.
“We are appealing to the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their safe release.”
SaharaReporters previously reported the abduction of the seven construction workers.
A source told SaharaReporters that the incident occurred when the attackers stormed a construction site in the community and forcefully took away the workers.
According to the source, the victims were engaged in an ongoing construction project at the time of the attack.
Among those kidnapped are two staff members of the Kwara State Ministry of Works.
“The attackers came suddenly, overpowered the workers and marched them into the bush,” the source said, adding that the assailants operated without immediate resistance.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Nigerian soldiers arrested a group of suspected bandits found patrolling with AK-47 rifles in a local security patrol vehicle in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The suspects were intercepted by troops during an operation in the area and taken into custody.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the arrested men were seen prostrated on the ground with their hands tied as soldiers questioned them over their activities and the source of the arms in their possession.
During the interrogation, one of the suspects, speaking in Hausa and Pidgin English, claimed that the vehicle and rifles were provided by the Kwara State government.
He alleged that they had been carrying out patrol duties in the area for some time.
“We have been here for quite a while. We are using the vehicle for patrol. Wallahi, na the truth I dey tell you,” the suspect said in the video.
“Ilorin government na him give us this motor and the weapons. They were the ones that gave us the rifles.”
The suspect further alleged that the arms were not personally collected by him but by their superior, whom he referred to as “our oga,” insisting that multiple individuals were involved.
“We are not the ones that collected the rifles; it was our oga that collected them. I know because I was with them. We go patrol many times with them, including oga Victor. All of them are involved. The weapons are theirs,” he claimed.