A couple and their daughter who were kidnapped last month in Katsina State have been freed, reportedly after their relatives paid a ransom of N50 million.
The victims—33-year-old Anas Ahmadu, his wife Halimatu, and their young daughter Jidda—were abducted around 3 a.m. on August 26 from their home in the Filin Canada estate within the Katsina metropolitan area.
During the abduction, the kidnappers killed a local security guard before taking the family to an undisclosed location. Shortly after, they contacted the victims’ family and initially demanded a ransom of N600 million.
The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident and said efforts were underway to apprehend the culprits and ensure justice. According to police spokesperson DSP Abubakar Aliyu, the gunmen, armed with dangerous weapons, stormed Anas Ahmadu’s residence in the early hours of August 26 and abducted him along with his wife and daughter.
“Also, the hoodlums fatally shot one Abdullahi Muhammad, age 25, of the same address, a member of the local vigilante, and escaped the scene before the arrival of police operatives.
“Upon receipt of the report, the DPO quickly rushed to the scene, restoring normalcy in the area as investigation commenced with a view to tracking and arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, in company of the command management team, Area Commander Metro, DPOs within the metro, as well as the command OC Anti-Kidnapping, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
“He then deployed additional personnel and assets to ensure the prompt rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators.
“Furthermore, the command calls on members of the public to at all times report suspicious and criminal activities to the nearest police station or make use of the command’s emergency line for prompt and decisive action against all forms of criminal activities.
“We further call on anyone with useful information to come forward and assist the ongoing investigation. All information given will be treated with the utmost confidentiality,” he added.
But sources close to the victims’ family said Ahmadu, his wife, and daughter were released late Thursday evening, after N50 million was paid to their abductors.
It was learnt that a series of negotiations were held between the family of the victims and their abductors before arriving at the said amount.
One of the sources also said that the abduction may have been targeted at the victim’s wife, as her father is known to be a very wealthy person in the state.
There was also speculation that an informer close to the victims may have tipped the kidnappers to carry out their nefarious activity, as the victims resided right in the heart of the state capital.
The development has raised concerns about the role of informants in fueling cases of abductions and other related security challenges in the state.
As at the time of report, the police command in the state had yet to respond or issue a statement regarding the victims’ release.