Kidnappers demand N50m for 3 teachers’ freedom

BENIN CITY — Kidnappers of the three primary school teachers who were abducted at Orhogbua Primary School at Ekenhuan village, a suburb of Benin City, capital of Edo State, are demanding N50m ransom.

The abducted teachers, Patience Osadolor, Momodu Aisha and Patience Oroghene, were taken by gun-totting men at gunpoint during school hours on July 30 after shooting sporadically to scare away bystanders.

Following the abduction of the three teachers, academic activities have been grounded at the school as other teachers have refused to report for duty until their colleagues were released unconditionally.

State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Mr. Patrick Ikosimi, confirmed that the kidnappers opened dialogue with families of the victims on Saturday.

Ikosimi who described the incident as unfortunate, complained that primary school teachers have not been paid their salaries for the past two months.

A teacher in the school, Peter Kalapolo, expressed shock over the abduction of his colleagues, adding: “Everybody knows that teachers don’t have money. What will the kidnappers get?”

Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Moses Eguaveon, who vowed that the teachers would be rescued unhurt, said investigation on the matter was ongoing.