Kidnappers of Benin Nurses Demand N17m for Their Release

Kidnappers of Benin Nurses Demand N17m for Their Release

The kidnappers of two University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) nurses are demanding N17 million before they would be released.

The nurses, identified as Osemelu Lydia and Ovbiosu Bose, were kidnapped last Wednesday along the Isihor axis of the Benin-Lagos road, Egor Local government council, while on their way home after getting their children from school. Upset by the increase in cases of abduction, nurses in the state took to the streets to draw government’s attention to their plight.

Now, Punch reports that the abductors have made contact with the relatives of the victims, demanding N15million for one of the nurses, and N2million for the other.

Speaking with Punch today, the ‎UBTH branch Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Austin Osigbeme, ‎said that the abductors later reduced the sum.

“They have not released them; they are asking for ransom. They started with [N15million] and two million naira but have started beating it down‎ to one million,” he said, adding, “But these are poor people that have no money to pay and that is why we are having that delay. They (families) have been apprehensive and having feelings of uncertainty, not sure of what is happening to their wives and sisters.”

He also added that the members of NANNM have decided to go ahead with the indefinite strike action, as they had threatened. “We will not allow people to force us to behave in the way that they want us to behave,” he said. “We decided to call off the strike and see what happens this week. We are praying.“