Suspected kidnappers, who abducted three friends
when they went to buy ice cream and cake in Abuja, have finally contacted
families of the victims, demanding 30,000 dollars.
Four days after Veronica Otogo, Bisola Mohammed and
Damilola Oribuyaku, three close friends, went missing in Abuja; those believed
to be behind their abduction had finally contacted the families yesterday.
It will be recalled that Veronica, whose birthday
was last Friday, had gone out with her friend, Bisola Mohammed, to buy ice
cream and cake at a creamery around Wuse 2, before their abduction.
It was, however, gathered that the ladies were later
joined by Damilola Oribuyaku, said to be Bisola's friend.
A friend to the Oribuyaku’s family, who took to
Facebook, calling for prayers for the victims, said: “Engineer Oribuyaku is a
family friend. His son, Damilola, who just returned from schooling overseas,
went to have ice-cream at Coldstone, Wuse II Abuja on Friday with two of his
female friends.
“As they were about to get into their cars, a jeep
blocked them. The rest was like a horror film. They were taken and driven
off. The abductors are demanding for
$300,000. Oribuyaku is a hardworking man, who has built his businesses with
clean money. He doesn't have that kind of money. Please, join us in praying for
the safety of these young people in the hands of these criminals. May God let
us find them alive and in one piece.”
The writer further wrote: “One of our brothers was
hit on the head with the butt of a gun in front of this same ice-cream parlour
at Gwarimpa last year. Criminals now target places frequently visited by middle
class. Let us be security conscious as Nigeria is going through a very hard
period.”
New Telegraph, which broke the story of the missing
persons, had reported that they drove a 2016 Toyota Highlander (light blue);
with registration number GGE 34 CZ.
A family member, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity, owing to the "delicate" nature of the case, simply said:
"No update yet, still missing."
A police source, who spoke in confidence with New
Telegraph, said investigation was ongoing.
Veronica's elder sister, Irinen Otogo, had earlier narrated
her last encounter thus: "It was her birthday (Friday), and she wasn't
planning (to really celebrate). I only ordered for a cake from one of my
friends for her. We left there and came back home. Then, her friend (Bisola) said that she
needed to buy a cake for her; that they should go and get a cake. When we got home, they took the cake from me
and left. I just kept waiting."
She had added: "Hauwa, one of my sister's
friends, who had come to see her, saw a missed call from Veronica about
8:00pm. When she called back, she
(Veronica busied the call at first, and when she tried again, the phone was
switched-off."
Asked if she has any suspicion, Irinen responded: "My
sister is not one that keeps many friends; I can beat my chest. Bisola, who came on January 3rd, and wanted
to be with us till after her my sister's birthday, Adanna, and Hauwa, are her
(Veronica's) only friends I know. She
doesn't go out at all; she doesn't club.”
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