Unknown gunmen, on Wednesday, kidnapped three children of an electronic dealer in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi State.
It was gathered that the incident happened at about 8PM in Kaduna Estate, Ajaokuta Steel township complex.
According to eyewitness, the fully armed gunmen shot sporadically to air to scare security agencies and neighbours before kidnapping the three children aged 5, 7 and 10 years.
The incident is coming few days when three policemen and five vigilantes were killed by unidentified gunmen in Jida Bassa, Ajaokuta local government.
A family source who craved anonymity identified the parent of the kidnapped children as Mr Kadiri, an indigene of Edo State.
The source said the gunmen on Thursday morning contacted the family of their victims demanding for N100 Million before they will release the abducted children.
Narrating how the incident happened, the source said ”the gunmen came in their numbers fully armed to the house of Mr Kadiri, our brother that sells television, radio and other electronic devices in the steel township.
“They shot countless time to scare people from coming close. When they could not see their target victim (Kadiri) they decided to pick the three children from the house. As we speak, their whereabouts is unknown. The kidnappers contacted some of our family members and they are demanding for N100Million. Where on earth can we raise such amount of money?
”Here in Ajaokuta, we can no longer sleep with our two eyes close. Their is armed robbery and kidnapping everywhere. Recently, we all saw how innocent policemen and vigilantes were killed. Things are already falling apart. No where is safe again”.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Command William Ayah confirmed the abduction on Friday.
In a statement, he said the Commissioner of Police in the state Edward Ebuka has deployed operatives of various police anti-kidnapping units in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters to trail the kidnappers in order to rescue the children and bring the perpetrators to book.
Meanwhile residents of Ajaokuta have lamented incessant incidences of armed robbery and kidnapping in the town, saying that they can no longer sleep with their eyes closed.
Policemen on Thursday stormed the popular FFN Market in Ajaokuta, searching for suspected criminals terrorising the areas.
