Kidnappers Demand N100m ransom For 14 Oil Workers Abducted

Kidnappers Demand N100m ransom For 14 Oil Workers Abducted

KIDNAPPERS of 14 oil workers in Rivers State have demanded N100m for the release of their victims.

It was gathered that the kidnappers had established contact with some families of those held captive for the past four days, asking them to make the sum available if they wanted their loved ones to regain freedom.

Gunmen had hijacked a Toyota Coaster bus conveying the oil workers, who are employees of Nestoil Plc.

The vehicle was travelling from Omoku to Port Harcourt on Friday when it was intercepted by the hoodlums.

The incident happened at about 12.20pm along the Omoku-Elele road, even as the kidnappers drove the vehicle to a different point before ordering the occupants into the bush.

A source, close to the family of one of the victims, said they (kidnappers) had established contact and demanded a ransom of N100m.

“Yes, they spoke with one of the family members of their victims and they are demanding N100m for the release of the 14 oil workers.

“We also learnt that the kidnappers had put calls across to some people in authority to make the money available so that the oil workers could be released,” the source added.

The PUNCH, however, gathered that the oil workers would have avoided being abducted if they had waited for security agencies to fill the vehicles tanks with fuel.

According to a source in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, the workers left in a hurry without waiting for police escort.