Fulani herdsmen demand N25m as ransom for kidnapped 80-year old former police superintendant

FULANI herdsmen who kidnapped octogenarian Chief James Omafuaire and his wife at Ukpeshi in Akoko Edo Council Area of Edo State have demanded the payment of a ransom of N25m ($69,000) for his release.

Chief Omafuaire, 80, an Olomu chief hails from Akperhe-Olomu in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. He is a retired superintendant of police and former divisional police officer, who is now into mining and it was at his Ikpeshi quarry site, that he, his wife and a customer were abducted yesterday.

Originally abducted along with his wife Victoria, who has now been released, he is the elder brother of Vanguard Newspaper senior photojournalist Akpokona Omafuaire. Earlier today, the kidnappers called Charles Omafuaire, his son, demanding a N25m ransom to release the Octogenarian.

Christy Omafuaire Atie, who confirm the ransom demand, said that the kidnap has caused panic in the family. She appealed to the police to swing into action to rescue her father while appealing to the herdsmen to lower the demand.