Captors Demand N20m To Release Nigeria Footballers

It’s three days in the kidnapper’s den and the players of the duo Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Enyimba of Aba, and Abia Comets, are yet to be freed.

This is because an agreement has not been reached as the abductors have now reduced ransom from N100m to N20m.

The families of the abducted said they cannot meet the demand of N50m but pleaded with the kidnappers to release the players.

It was gathered that the families offered the kidnappers N900, 000 for the release of the duo but it was rebuffed.

Dayo Ojo of Enyimba and Benjamin Iluyomade of Comets were on their way to their base in Akure from Owerri when gunmen ambushed their vehicle on Sunday afternoon.

A team-mate of Ojo’s from his club side Enyimba, Emmanuel James, who was also in the car, was not taken and raised an alarm.

The trio were travelling driving on the Benin-Owo expressway following the suspension of footballing activities in the country over the issue of Coronavirus in the country.

Detectives have been moving from Akure to Owerri trying to mark out the captors but have had little success.

State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro told reporters that they are trying to trace the captors’ hideout.

“We are still optimistic about rescuing the two players. We are doing all we can to bring the captors to book,” said Mr Ikoro.

He advised the families against sending money to the anonymous callers.