Bandits Kill Niger State Local Govt Director Despite N7m Ransom Payment

Mallam Yakubu Abdullahi Bala, the Director of Works and Housing for Mariga Local Government Area in Niger State, was killed by the bandits after his family paid a N7 million ransom.

Bala was reported to have been kidnapped from his residence in Mariga town more than 20 days ago.

The bandits also carried out a raid in the neighbourhood, abducting no fewer than 25 people.

Several of the recently freed kidnapping victims have verified to Mallam Bala’s family that the bandits sadly took his life just three days after he was abducted. They also reported witnessing his burial.

It was gathered that following the victim’s demise and the reception of N7 million, the bandits proceeded to request an additional N5 million from the deceased’s family, asserting that he was in a critical health condition and required immediate medical intervention.

Hajia Hadiza Abdullahi, the sister of the deceased, officially confirmed this information to the press on Tuesday, September 5. She disclosed that the late Director was in his room with his two wives, one of whom was in an advanced stage of pregnancy when the bandits launched their invasion on his residence.

She explained that when the terrorists knocked, one of the wives opened the door, and the assailants forcibly entered the premises before abducting the deceased and taking him to an undisclosed location.

Abdullahi further explained that just three days after her brother and the others were kidnapped, the bandits demanded 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 victims who were released shared the distressing details that her brother had been bound to a tree, and the terrorists had intentionally broken both of his legs, leading to his unfortunate passing. They were informed that he had been interred in a shallow grave within the forest.

She mourned the fact that her brother had left behind two wives and ten children. She expressed the family’s profound difficulty in coming to terms with his tragic demise.