The
abductors of the foreign expatriate, Mr. Himan, a
Lebanese, who was kidnapped along Epe Road on Monday, while inspecting the Epe
road expansion project, have demanded for N150 million ransom.
A
worker of Craneburg Construction Limited, who pleaded anonymity, said Himan was
whisked away by the gunmen, who shot sporadically into the air to scare people.
He
said: "Himan was in the Temu site of the ongoing project, when the gunmen
came in a vehicle without plate number. They ordered Himan to enter the
vehicle. When he didn’t respond, they brought out guns; he obeyed them. They
shot into the air and everybody took to their heels. They zoomed off, heading
towards Ikorodu Road."
The worker
said that Himan was kidnapped minutes after a guy ‘mistakenly’ pushed him,
apologized and quickly walked away.
He
said: "We suspected that the man, who pretended to push him, seized that
opportunity to point out the target. Himan was kidnapped a few minutes after
that. Himan was the most dreaded boss in Craneburg, while his colleague,
"Charpel" is friendlier. Himan was kidnapped while handling Charpel’s
job. Charpel didn’t come to work."
Sources
in the construction firm said the abductors had been able to establish contact
and demanded for N150m ransom. A motorcyclist, who claimed to have witnessed
the kidnap, said he was aware that N150m was demanded.
The
cyclist added: “The kidnappers are demanding for N150m before they would
release the Lebanese. The government is doing its own negotiation, while the
victim’s family is also discussing with the abductors."
The Police Public Relations Officer
(PPRO), Dolapo Badru said: “The Command is not aware of any negotiation. At our
end, we’re intensifying efforts to rescue the victim and arrest the culprits."
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