15th January, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Three of the ten people abducted from an estate in Sagwari Layout, Dutse, Abuja, on January 7 have been reportedly killed by their abductors as a warning to their relatives negotiating ransom.
The bandits further increased their demand from the initial N60 million per person to N100 million. The total sum is now N700 million.
Vanguard reports that residents said the victims were allegedly killed over the ‘delay’ in raising the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
The medium also gathered that a 13-year-old high school student, identified as Folorunsho Ariyo, was among those killed.
This is coming days after former Minister for Communication and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami said that a friend of his has offered to pay N50 million ransom to the kidnappers after one of the victims Nabeeha was killed.
Nigerians on social media had started a fundraising campaign for the ransom to seek the release of a lady identified only as Nabeeha and five of her sisters who were abducted in their house in Abuja on January 2, 2024.
However, ex-minister Pantami disclosed in a tweet on his X handle on Sunday that a friend of his, whose name was not mentioned, has offered to contribute N50 million to their release.
He wrote, “I am personally not in support of paying ransom to criminals. However, since it became clear, that we lost our daughter Nabeeha yesterday, and the five remaining daughters have been threatened, as I spoke with the father on the matter yesterday and today.
“Furthermore, I spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60m immediately.
“I conveyed the account number of the father of our daughters, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, to the friend and brother to send the money directly. Any additional amount earlier generated from yesterday, the father can use to treat the daughters and other family members in sha Allah.
“May the Almighty Allah reward the bother and friend with Jannatul Firdaus for the donation. May He also reward all those who contributed in any way with Jannatul Firdaus, too.
“May He also forgive Nabeeha and rescue her sisters. May the Almighty also help our security agencies to bring an end to these challenges. May Nigeria be a better place for all of us.”
Dutse is a town under the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Concerned authorities have yet to speak on the matter at the time of filing this report.