Gunmen kill kidnapped Local Govt director in after collecting N7m ransom

Bandits have killed the Director of Works and Housing of Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, Mallam Yakubu Abdullahi Bala, after collecting N7m ransom from his family.
It was gathered that Bala was abducted from his home in Mariga town over 20 days ago.

The bandits also raided the neighbourhood and kidnapped not less than 25 people.

Some of the kidnapped victims who were released confirmed to the family of Mallam Bala that the bandits killed him three days after he was abducted, adding that he was buried in their presence.

It was further learnt that after killing the victim and collecting N7m, the bandits demanded another N5m from the deceased’s family, claiming he was sick and needed urgent medical attention.

The sister of the deceased, Hajia Hadiza Abdullahi, who confirmed the news to THISDAY on Tuesday, September 5, disclosed that the late Director was in his room with his two wives, one of who was heavily pregnant, when the bandits invaded his house.

She explained that when the terrorists knocked, one of the wives opened the door and the terrorists forced their way in before taking the deceased to an unknown destination.

Abdullahi explained that three days after her brother and others were kidnapped, the bandits called for a ransom of N50 million.

“We raised millions but the bandits did not release my brother. There were relations of four others kidnapped who were able to contribute N2 million each and they took to the abductors in the forest before their family members were released,” she said.

“It was when these people came from the forest that we were told that my brother had been killed by the gunmen two days after he was kidnapped,” Abdullahi said.

According to her, the released victims disclosed that her brother was tied to a tree and the terrorists broke his two legs before he died adding that they were told that he was buried in a shallow grave in the forest.

She lamented that her brother left behind two wives and 10 children saying that the family are having a hard time coming to terms with his death.