TheCable

This is not the best of times for the family of Joshua Dariye (pictured), former governor of Plateau state and a current serving senator, as gunmen who kidnapped his father on Saturday are now demanding for a ransom of $10 million.

The armed men invaded Dariye family compound in Mushere village in Bokkos local government area of Plateau, shooting sporadically and scaring away people.

They then dressed the old man in women’s clothes and sped off with him on a motorcycle.

However, Dave Enetie, commander of the Special task Force (STF), maintaining security in Plateau, informed NAN about the demand of the gunmen on Sunday.

“We have just confirmed that the kidnappers dropped a letter in which they asked for N10 million dollars,” he said.

“We are trying to get a copy of the letter and the phone numbers to help our efforts to secure the release of Dariye’s father.”

Enetie said that STF personnel had been dispatched to nooks and crannies of the state to locate the kidnappers, in addition to the efforts of search teams combing neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, Abu Emmanuel, Plateau police public relations officer, said that investigation had begun, revealing that the police had visited the site of the incident and even picked up shells of bullets shot by the gunmen.

“There is already a search and rescue team and we hope we should be able to arrive at something as soon as possible,” he said.