Palpable fear has gripped residents of Sagwari Layout Estate Dutse, Abuja after the kidnappers who abducted ten persons from the area killed three of their victims.

Gunmen had on January 7 invaded the estate with highly sophisticated weapons and abducted at least ten persons.

Reports emerged on Monday that the terrorists had killed three of the ten victims to send a strong warning to their relatives negotiating ransom payment.

It was also gathered that the assailants had increased their demand from the initial N60 million per person to N100 million, now totalling N700 million, as the only condition of their release.

It was further gathered that the victims were allegedly killed over the ‘delay’ in raising the ransom earlier demanded by the kidnappers.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT command could not be reached for comments as of press time.