By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
Barely 48 hours after gunmen abducted and killed a retired Permanent Secretary from Gombe State in Kano, following the payment of a N10 million ransom, another group of unidentified gunmen struck again in Garo town, Kabo Local Government Area.
This time, they abducted a young lady named Zainab, after extorting N8 million from her family.
Zainab’s family had negotiated for her release, as she is a secondary school graduate, but despite paying the ransom, the gunmen remained defiant, abducting Zainab and fleeing with her to an unknown destination.
A source told our correspondent that the gunmen operated in a commando-style, firing shots in the air while moving with both the victim and the extorted ransom money.
According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen, numbering about 10, targeted the residence of a prominent business tycoon, Alhaji Auwal, in Garo Sabuwar Unguwa around 1:20 a.m. on Sunday.
“Three of them were armed with guns, while the rest carried various dangerous weapons. Residents were terrified as they brandished their weapons and fired sporadically,” an eyewitness recounted.
The attackers forced their way into the house by breaking through a smaller door, rounding up the family and creating an atmosphere of fear.
The head of the family, in desperation, negotiated with the gunmen, offering them N8 million to ensure the safety of his family.
“Despite receiving the ransom, the criminals abducted the eldest daughter of the family before fleeing. The whereabouts of the young lady remain unknown, as the kidnappers have yet to contact the family,” the eyewitness added.
The abduction of Zainab has sent shockwaves through Kano, heightening fears across the region.
In response, Kano State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Salman Dogo Garba, had deployed an anti-kidnapping team and other detectives to the area in a bid to capture the gunmen.
The investigation is ongoing, and Kiyawa called for calm while urging residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the police.
Earlier reports from our correspondent indicated that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers had abducted and killed a retired Permanent Secretary from Gombe State who was residing in Kano.
The victim, Atiku Mu’azu, a former chairman of the Gombe State Board of Internal Revenue Service, was killed by his abductors after his family paid a N10 million ransom.
According to reports, Atiku had received a phone call from his mechanic, informing him that his stolen car had been found.
When Atiku met the mechanic at an undisclosed location to recover the vehicle, he was held hostage by the kidnappers. After demanding a ransom of N20 million, the abductors collected N10 million and later dropped his lifeless body by the roadside in a different location.
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident, but the mechanic remains at large. Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya condemned the gruesome murder, offering his condolences to the family and commending security agencies for their swift action in apprehending a suspect.
On Friday, the Kano State Police Command raised alarms about potential terrorist attacks targeting public facilities in the region.
SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa urged the public to remain cautious and avoid crowded areas, as security arrangements have been put in place to address potential threats.
Special teams, including experts from the Command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear units, have been deployed to strategic locations.
Kiyawa urged residents to report suspicious activities and cooperate with the police to ensure the safety of lives and property in Kano State. Emergency contact numbers for the public were also provided for immediate action.
