Terrorists have threatened to kill Edwin Achi, a vicar of the Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, and Sarah Achi, his wife, should their loved ones fail to pay at least a N200 million ransom by the end of the week.

The couple was kidnapped in the early hours of Tuesday, October 28, from their residence in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA). They have spent 29 days in captivity.

Reported that the kidnappers released their pictures, along with other abducted persons’ pictures, on Wednesday.

When the kidnappers struck on October 28, the couple’s three-year-old and one-year-old children were left behind, and they have been in the care of loved ones.

A relative, who spoke with FIJ on Wednesday afternoon, said that the family members were in disarray over the incident because “nobody has that kind of ransom lying around”.

“The kidnappers’ initial demand was a ridiculous ask of N600 million, but that has since gone lower, around N200 million or thereabouts now. And of an ultimatum, they threatened that if by this weekend the ransom demand isn’t met, they will be unalived,” he said.

“As per the effort of the police, I don’t know for certain, but I’m certain the state command is aware. Negotiations have been the combined effort of the family and the Church.”

A leader of the Kaduna Anglican Diocese, who asked not to be named, told FIJ on Wednesday evening that the information they got was that the kidnappers were insisting on a N600 million ransom.

“They are demanding N600 million, and they have not reduced it. Even the family has been trying to negotiate with them, but the kidnappers have not agreed. That is where we are for now,” the church leader said.

 

Asked whether security agencies in the state had intervened, he said, “I wouldn’t know. We believe the security operatives should act on all the information already in the media. Our role is to inform the public about what happened, and it is for the security operatives to take it up from there.”

The church leader also said he was not aware of an ultimatum the kidnappers had given to the family.

Mansir Hassan, the police spokesperson in Kaduna, said, “I will get back to you” when FIJ reached out via a phone call. At the time of publication, he had yet to call back.