Nigerien kidnappers say schoolgirl will work for ransom.
The Niger Republic-based kidnappers who
abducted a 15-year-old schoolgirl, Precious Okoro, have said if her
family refuses to pay $100,000 ransom, she would be made to work for it.
The victim’s mother, Blessing, while
appealing to the government for help, said her family had become
bankrupt as a result of expenses.
She added that relatives and friends had abandoned them as they now struggled to feed.
PUNCH Metro
had reported on Tuesday how Precious was kidnapped at the Ajah area of
Lagos State en route to her school in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Our correspondent had reported that the
victim’s father was called by the principal who informed him that
Precious had yet to report in the school.
Two months after the disappearance of the
victim, the kidnappers were said to have called his father and demanded
a ransom of $100,000 (N19.1m).
PUNCH Metro reported that Precious had not been found despite efforts by the police.
Her mother, Blessing, said the kidnappers threatened to turn her daughter to a sex slave if the money was not produced.
She said, “We still spoke with her a few
days ago and we begged the abductors to release her. They said we should
pay N18m, later they reduced it to N500, 000 and at another time, they
said we should pay any amount.
“When we begged them, they said if we
don’t pay the money, she will work for the money. We don’t know what
they mean by that, whether they want to turn her into a prostitute. A
J.S.S. 3 girl that has just registered for her final junior exams, what
does she know?
“People have abandoned us because of this incident and we are so confused.”
Precious’s father, Nwaigwe, said his business had closed down and his children were no longer going to school.
He said, “I am no more myself since my
daughter got missing. I have spent so much money on travels without any
result. To eat has been difficult. My kids are no more going to school.
“I am appealing to the government and good Nigerians to assist me.”
