Turkish school: Kidnappers slash ransom to N700m

The abductors of students and officials of Nigeria-Turkish International School, Isheri, Ogun State, yesterday, reduced the ransom from N1.2 billion to N700 million.
Gunmen had stormed the school on Friday night, abducted three female students, three Nigerian officials and two Turkish officials.

The kidnappers had called families of the victims, demanding N100 million on each child and Nigerian officials of the school and N300 million each on the Turkish nationals, bring the total ransom to N1.2 billion.

However, the kidnappers yeaterday scaled down their demand with each of the students and the Nigerian officials expected to pay N50 million while N200 million was placed on each of the Turkish officials.
However, a parent of one of the victims, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Daily Sun he was angry that some families of the victims who have  started negotiating with the kidnappers on their own.

He said: “We planned to do things together, but some of us who felt they have money are showing their financial strength, as they have started offering some prices to the kidnappers.

“If they have the money, it is not all of us that have money.”

A detective told Daily Sun yesterday that they were able to unmask two of the suspects, declaring:  “Yes, there is hope in sight for the victims and their families, as we have been able to identify two of the principal suspects in the kidnapping.
“We have a way of unmasking criminals.  The hoodlums are talking tough, but we are closing in on them.  I assure you, we know two of the suspects.”

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 command, Onikan, Lagos, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, told Daily Sun that the police were working hard to rescue the victims and arrest the suspects.