The gunmen who kidnapped about 39 children working on a farm in Katsina State have demanded N30million as a ransom for the release of the captives.
Recall that on Sunday, no fewer than 39 children comprising boys and girls were abducted on a farm in the Mairuwa community of the Faskari Local Government Area of the state.
The bandits who came in their numbers invaded the farm where the children were working and carted away the minors.
According to a source in the community, the bandits have established contact using the cell phone of one of the victims, demanding a ransom of N30 million.
Earlier, according to the source, N1miilion was paid to the bandits as levy before mobilising the children by a representative of the farm.
“They demanded N3m from the owner for him to be able to harvest his produce, he gave them N1 million as part payment and decided to begin the work before completing the money, but unfortunately the bandits did not accept that.
“In our village, Mairuwa, alone we have 33 among the victims including young ladies who are due for marriage,” the source told Daily Trust in a telephone chat.
When contacted by the newspaper, the police spokesman in the state, Gambo Isah, said that there was an ongoing effort by the police to rescue the victims.
According to him, the command was in synergy with the state government and other security agencies for rescue operations.
