Kidnappers of Edo State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Emmanuel Agbale have demanded for N10 million to release their hostage.

Agbale was reportedly kidnapped on Friday evening, by the armed gang on Benin/Auchi road at Okhuo River just by Heartland Palm Plantation on his way to Ekpoma Esan West Local Government Area of the State.

But the Commissioner’s driver escaped unhurt, Jimeta said that the police orderly was gunned down by the kidnappers during the operation.

A close family member of the victim, said that that negotiation through the back channel between the kidnappers and Agbale’s family has began.

He added: “The kidnappers have held several telephone conversations with the family members and made their demand known. From an initial demand of N20 million, they reduced it was to N10 which they insisted must be paid before releasing him”.

The police Commissioner, Tanko Jimeta, yesterday denied knowledge of the ransom, but insisted that his men were hot on the trail of the kidnappers and have been combing the forest around the scene in a determined bid to release the Commissioner.

He said: “The Commissioner was kidnapped on Friday evening along Benin-Auchi road. His police orderly was killed by the gunmen. Right now, my men are everywhere, combing the bush to rescue him. By God’s Grace, we will rescue him alive. We are closing in on them. We will bring the kidnappers to justice”.

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