Two visually impaired men who were abducted by gunmen on Monday night in Plateau State’s Riyom Local Government Area have been released, the chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) confirmed on Wednesday evening.
The victims were travelling back to Jos from Benue State, where they had attended a training programme, when armed men attacked their vehicle on the Riyom‑Jos road. Nine people were in the vehicle at the time; seven escaped the ambush, while the two visually impaired passengers were taken hostage.
Shindol Aaron, chairman of the Plateau State chapter of JONAPWD, told reporters that the men were freed between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday. “We were lucky yesterday that they released them. I spoke with the brothers who went to pick them up, and they confirmed that the victims were already in a vehicle coming into town,” he said.
The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N50 million for the release of the two men. Although there have been reports that the perpetrators were apprehended by security forces, Aaron said he has not independently verified that information.
Aaron added that he has not yet met the released individuals personally and is awaiting direct contact with them. The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s central plateau region, where banditry and kidnapping remain persistent threats.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
