Gunmen (file photo)

By Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Mrs. Augustina Osakwe, who’s husband, Mr. Godwin Osakwe, was kidnapped with their 17-year-old son, has appealed to their abductors to release her loved ones unhurt, as it has been difficult for her to raise the ransom money demanded.

Mr. Osakwe and his son were recently abducted by gunmen at the notorious Ahor village slope section of the Benin bypass.

They were coming from the Oluku end of the bypass and heading towards Benin-Auchi Road side, when they were kidnapped.

It was gathered that upon sighting their victims, the hoodlums shot sporadically, forcing them to stop their car.

The gunmen thereafter matched the victims into the bush and abandoned their car on the roadside.

Operatives of Ahor police station have since recovered the car.

It was gathered that the abductors who contacted Mrs. Osakwe through her husband’s mobile phone, are asking for the sum of N6 million to secure the release of the father and his son.

Mrs. Osakwe is however finding it difficult to raise the money.

She said: “l have gone round everywhere looking for money to drop as ransom, but it is very difficult. I have been begging the kidnappers not to hurt my husband and son.

“I am still trying to raise the money for them,” she said.

It is pertinent, however to recall that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philip Ogbadu on Tuesday boasted that kidnappers will no longer keep victims with them longer than four hours before they are rescued by the police.

Ogbadu who stated this during his visit to the secretariat of the Edo NUJ, also stated that he has positioned his operatives at flashpoints in the state, including the notorious Ahor area.

It is left to see how he hopes to make real his boasts.