The family of the abducted managing director of Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, has revealed that the sum of N100m was paid to bandits to secure his release.
Mr Hassan was released by the bandits on Wednesday, after spending about 10 days in captivity, following his abduction alongside many others when the terrorists attacked a Kaduna bound train on March 28.
Though the bandits who appeared in a short video they made with the MD, had claimed that no ransom was paid but family sources said N100million was coughed out for his release.
According to a Family source, Mr. Hassan’s house in Abuja was sold to raise the said amount.
He added that the kidnappers had earlier sent the family the video of the harrowing experience the captives were facing, including Mr Hassan, to spur them into raising money for his release in time.
“A few days earlier, they sent the video of their harrowing condition in order to raise their stake. Alwan was always saying ‘give them whatever amount they want’. So the family gave them what they insisted on… that is N100million,” said one of the family sources.
The source noted that, the bandits had asked them to take the money to a forest in Katsina on Tuesday before asking them to make a detour to another forest in Kaduna.
The source added that after the family emissaries journeyed for hours in the bush, the gunmen appeared fully armed in their hundreds and collected the money.
