Reports indicate that the gunmen who kidnapped Dr Cornelius Onuigbo, a medical doctor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Anambra State, are demanding a ransom of N10 million.

A source revealed to SaharaReporters that a manhunt has been launched to rescue him after he was abducted on Tuesday night in front of his house while returning from the hospital.

On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, a close friend of Dr. Onuigbo said the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million but have since reduced their demand to N10 million after negotiations.

The family is pleading with the kidnappers to further reduce the ransom, as they are struggling to come up with the money.

"They initially demanded N50 million, but negotiations have been going on. I learned now that they have come down to N10 million and we still hope that they will still come down because the money is not there. We are begging them while at the same time reaching out to friends to see how we can get him out," the source said.

The Anambra State Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Chukwuemeka Princeton Okam, told SaharaReporters, that bandits and gunmen have begun targeting medical doctors in the state, causing fear and panic due to threats received.

"He was kidnapped in front of his gate at Uruagu village of Nnewi along Nnewi-Orba Road. He was coming back from the hospital and he was trying to enter his house through his gate. Then they (gunmen) double-crossed him and picked him up.

"I don't know whether they want doctors to run away from this country. From kidnapping to threat calls. Many of our members have been receiving threat calls from these elements. We are really endangered in the state (Anambra State)".

"Hopefully, let's hope that there will be renewed efforts of the state government on the kidnap issue so that we will have succour coming our way and the way of our Anambrians. Unless they know him before otherwise most often, they pick at random.

"Nobody is safe actually. These people might have known him, they might have been targeting him or it may just be a coincidence. I don't know and nobody knows but I am sure they know he is a doctor.”