By Goodluck Ikiebe
Abductors of Broadcast Journalist/Editor, Nten Ekpang, with Trust TV have contacted his family, demanding 10 million naira ransom.
Ekpang was kidnapped on Wednesday, 1/11/2023 at a village near Lokoja in Kogi State.
He was on his way back to Abuja, after taking his family for a holiday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
A Close Family Contact, Kevin Chianan, who confirmed this to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday night, said the kidnappers called the wife and demanded ten million naira ransom for his release.
“My name is kelvin and a friend of Nten Ekpang, who happens to travel on Sunday to Akwa-Ibom State to drop his family with the mother in law. I called him yesterday, (Wednesday), in the morning and he told me he was in the park to which he was about to leave Uyo for Abuja”.
“I called him back at about 6pm to find out whether he had gotten to Abuja but I couldn’t get in touch with him, his number was switched off. At about 9pm, I was told that he had been kidnapped,” he added.
Journalists in Abuja have appealed to the captors to set him free unhurt, while calling on the security Agencies in Kogi State to ensure his safe rescue.
Our Correspondent reports that the driver of the bus was set free by the kidnappers and now with the security to help in the rescue effort.
The Nigeria Police, Kogi State Command is yet to make a statement concerning the kidnap incident.
Update
“Released! Thank you Jesus,” Ntem posted on his Facebook at about 4am today (Thursday, 9 November 2023) after days of absence.
Attached to the post are pictures of him and others believed to be those kidnapped along with him.
It was not clear at press time if the ransom of N10 million was paid or they were rescued.