The
abductors of three Catholic reverend sisters and three aspirants for the
convent have demanded a ransom of N20m for their release, Punch learnt
on Saturday.
The
reverend sisters, from the Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus convent in
Iguoriakhi, in the Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, and
three other females, were kidnapped by gunmen on November 14.
The
victims were said to have been taken away in a speedboat.
The
sisters were identified as Aloysius Ajayi, Frances Udi and Roselyn Isiocha,
while the other three females, identified only as Vivian, Mariam and Anna, were
aspiring to join the convent before the incident occurred.
It
was gathered that the kidnappers stormed the religious community at about 11pm
and forcefully took their victims away. A
source told Punch correspondent on Saturday that the kidnappers earlier
demanded N50m but later reduced it to N20m.
Meanwhile,
a Catholic priest, Fr. Kevin Anetor, has launched an online campaign for the
release of the victims.
It
was also gathered that the archdiocese cancelled its annual religious
get-together because of the development. Anetor,
in a Facebook post, decried the continuous captivity of the sisters, who had
spent 46 days in the kidnappers’ den.
The
priest, in the Facebook post, said, “It’s been many weeks already and our
sisters have yet to be returned to us. Please, let’s all do something as we
continue to pray for their safe release. Join the social media campaign. Share
till something positive happens.”
He
told Punch correspondent on the phone, “Sisters are not millionaires. Where do
they expect them to get money to pay ransom? First of all, our prayer is that
they are safe and the second thing is that they are released safe and sound.”
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