- Â Police launch manhunt
John Shiklam in Kaduna and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
Abductors of Chief Damishi Sango, Plateau State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, who was kidnapped in Jere, Kaduna State on Wednesday evening, have demanded for N100 million as ransom for his release.
A source close to Sango said his (Sango) phone was used in contacting a chieftain of the party in Abuja to demand for the ransom.
Meanwhile, the party has, in a statement issued yesterday afternoon, charged the security agents to ensure that the party chairman, who was kidnapped alongside another chieftain of the party, Chief Emmanuel Mangni, his (Sango) son, his driver and orderly, is safely released.
The statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr John Akans, said: “While we trust the security agents to be on top of the situation, we invite the families of those involved, friends, associates and our members at all levels to remain calm and continue to pray for their safety and quick return.
“Information available to us indicate that travelling along with Sango in his car were Mangni, an elder and chieftain of the party, Sango’s son, driver and orderly.
“Security agents have stepped into the matter, and have commenced preliminary investigations,†Akans reassured.
However, the Kaduna State Police Command has said special forces had been dispatched to rescue Sango and four others.
Spokesman of the command, Aliyu Mukhtar, said the Special Anti Kidnapping Team and the Special Tactical Squad were dispatched to locate and arrest the bandits.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Muktar said “the Inspector General of Police’s (IG’s) Anti-Kidnapping Team and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) have swung into action to recue the victims when we received a distress call at about 6p.m on Wednesday about the incident, which occurred along Kagarko-Jere road.â€
