Three abductees who were kidnapped in Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State since June, 2025 have finally regained freedom after payment of N75 million.
DAILY POST on August 4, 2025 reported that Auchi residents, particularly the age groups of the victims, had raised the sum of N70 million for the payment of ransom for the release of the abductees.
The fund raising following a viral video made by the victims who were three in numbers.
It was learnt that the age group went around the community to collect the money to complete the ransom.
It was also gathered that the victims were released on Monday, August 11, 2025 after paying N45 million in addition to earlier N30 million paid to bring the total money to N75 million as demanded by the kidnappers.
It was gathered that trouble started when one of the victims identified as Lukman was kidnapped in June and the kidnappers demanded the sum of N75 million ransom.
The relatives of the victim negotiated the ransom with the kidnappers and agreed on N30 million but the two persons who delivered the ransom to the kidnappers were then also seized alongside the first victim, Lukman
The kidnappers were said to have demanded for the balance of N45 million, insisting that the earlier N70 million must be paid in full before releasing the victims.
The victims after spending over a month in captivity, however, made a video that went viral where they appealed to family members and other spirited individuals in the locality to come to their aid in completing the amount for the ransom and save them from being killed.
A local who simply identified himself as Hassan, said the payment was made possible with the help of age-groups who went round the community soliciting funds to complete the ransom and get them released.
He, however, alleged that the kidnappers told the victims that they have informants who give them information about individuals to kidnap.
