The families of Isaac Babalola and Joel Emmanuel Bamiyo, students from Kogi State University, are grappling with a deadly ultimatum set by their abductors. Originally demanding a staggering N50 million, the kidnappers have now lowered their ransom demand to N10 million following desperate appeals from the students’ families.
Isaac and Joel, both from the Public Administration Department, were kidnapped last week along the notorious Okene-Kabba road.
This location has previously been the site of another high-profile kidnapping involving the caretaker committee chairman of the Kabba Bunu Local Government Area (LGA).
Shadrach Idowu Babalola, Isaac’s father, revealed the harrowing details of the kidnappers’ repeated calls, each one heightening the urgency and danger of the situation. “Every time they call and demand N50 million, and we explain that we cannot afford that amount, they accuse us of not caring about our children’s lives,” he said.
Joel Emmanuel Bamiyo’s father further shared the grim exchanges they’ve had with the kidnappers. The ransom was eventually reduced to N5 million per student, but the abductors remain adamant about the total sum of N10 million, warning of severe consequences if their demands are not met.
“The last time we spoke, and we told them what we could afford, they bluntly told us to take the money and buy Maggi to make soup for ourselves,” he recounted.
Amidst the anguish, both families have made urgent appeals to the state government and security forces, urging them to act swiftly to secure the students’ release. However, the Kogi Police Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Williams Aya, disclosed that the police had not been informed of the kidnapping. He highlighted that neither the students’ families nor the university had reported the incident to the authorities.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the university were unsuccessful at the time of reporting, leaving the families in a state of anxiety and uncertainty. The clock is ticking, and the fate of Isaac and Joel hangs in the balance as their families await a resolution to this harrowing ordeal.