How family of kidnapped Bank of Agric chair paid N100m ransom for his release

The managing director of Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan who was abducted by terror bandits during their attack on Kaduna-Abuja bound train last week, has allegedly paid the staggering sum of N100 million to secure his freedom, Daily Nigerian quoted family sources who are familiar with the event.

Mr Hassan was released on Wednesday after spending about 10 days in the terrorists den, following his abduction alongside hundreds of passengers on March 28.

Although the terror gang had claimed that no ransom was paid in a short video clip made with the mobile phone of the managing director, but family source according to Daily Nigerian said N100 million was paid before he was released

According to the source, the kidnappers earlier sent the family the video of the harrowing experience the captives were facing, including Mr Hassan, in order to raise the ransom stake.

“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.

According to the source, the kidnappers first asked the family 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.