In a distressing incident, a woman identified as Lami was reportedly killed by bandits after being kidnapped alongside her husband, Yakubu Dada, on the Kontagora Road in Niger State on October 31, 2024.
The abductors had initially demanded a ransom of N10 million, which the family managed to raise by selling nearly all their possessions, including their family house, two cars, beds, televisions, and other valuables. This amount was delivered by Dada’s younger brother to the kidnappers in a forest in Kebbi State in November 2024.
Despite the payment of the N10 million ransom, the bandits subsequently demanded an additional N20 million and four Bajaj motorcycles, threatening to kill Dada if their new demands were not met.
Maimuna, Dada’s eldest wife, expressed the family’s desperation: “Our husband is a retired civil servant and currently worked as an ad hoc staff with the World Health Organisation.”
She recounted the harrowing moment when Dada informed them of Lami’s death: “The bandits allowed us to speak with our husband. He broke the news that Lami had been shot dead and warned that they would kill him too if we fail to raise another N20 million and provide four motorcycles.”
Maimuna has called on the Niger State government and security agencies to intervene and rescue her husband from the bandits’ clutches.
A neighbour, Idris Mohammed, noted that a plea for support was made during Jumaat prayers on Friday.
The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, has stated that he will provide further information on the situation.
