Gunmen who kidnapped six persons from the University of Abuja Staff Quarters on Tuesday have demanded N300 million ransom.
It was gathered that the gunmen had contacted the mother of one of the kidnapped boys, asking for N50 million each for the abductees.
A source in the university told The Nation that the gunmen have opened a line of communication, using the woman to pass their demands across.
The source said: “The kidnappers contacted the woman whose son is with them. They allowed her to speak with the boy then they told her what their demands are.
“The kidnappers asked for N50 million each for the six persons kidnapped.”
Asked if the university is involved in the negotiations, the source said: “The University is not involved. They contacted the woman whose child they abducted and they permitted her to speak to her son.
“They refused to speak with individual family members.
“It is not advisable for the university to get involved directly. That is the truth.
“If the families are negotiating they may even get a better deal so to speak. If it is the university that is negotiating with them you know that they will not budge.
“It is better for the families to negotiate, when they come down then the university can do whatever it dims fit to do. I think that is the strategy.”
The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, DSP Josephine Adeh, couldn’t be reached for comment as at press time.
