KIDNAPPERS’ free reign has apparently continued in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as four out the 10 persons kidnapped in Kubwa/Dutse area of the territory have been found killed and dumped at Ida, near Ushafa in Bwari Area Council.
Among the bodies was that of a secondary school student and daughter of Ekiti State-born Chief Legal Officer of the National University Commission (NUC), Folorunsho Ariyo, and a 400 level student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar.
Miss Ariyo was abducted along with her mother and three siblings two Sundays ago while Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar was seized with her father and five of her female siblings last Tuesday in the same axis.
Family sources told the Nigerian Tribune that the kidnappers had demanded the sum of N60 million ransom to release members of the Ariyo family who could only raise about N5 million.
“Talks were still ongoing and as at last Friday, we were optimistic of a positive outcome until we were contacted to pick up her body,” a family source volunteered.
The teenage girl was buried on Sunday in Dutse Cemetery, Abuja while the other members of the family remain with their abductors.
It was learnt that the kidnappers who invaded Al-kadriyar’s residence at Zuma 1, near Bwari at about 9pm last Tuesday, also took away her father and her sisters and demanded the sum of N100 million ransom for their release but later reduced it to N60 million.
A source who gave an account of the incident, said: “On Tuesday 2nd of January around 9:00 pm kidnappers struck and took away a father and her six children (all girls) at Zuma 1 after Bwari FCT before Veritas University.
“The younger brother that was contacted on distressed call died during the attack. The father was released 48hrs after to bring N60m ransom.
“We were contacted last night Friday 12th Jan around 7pm to bring the money and later called around 10:30pm same night telling us they have killed one of the girls and even described the location for us to pick the corpse.
“While were we at the point of picking up the corpse, they called again raising the ransom to N100 million insisting that any attempt in delaying the payment will be met with equal treatment. These are the phone numbers being used by the abductors: 07016250005 0912 391 5983.”
In a bid to raise money, Nigerians were urged to donate whatever they have into a bank account, but not enough money was gathered as of Friday.
The FCT kidnappings have drawn outcry from residents including former Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, who said that he had spoken with the father of Najeebah over the remaining kidnapped girls.
“Inna lil Laahi wa inna ilaiHi Raajiun! I just read about the killing of our daughter Najeeba (400 level, ABU). I also spoke with her father about the remaining five of our kidnapped daughters. May Allah forgive her, rescue others and bring absolute peace to Nigeria,” he said in a post on his X handle.
A former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, said: “The gruesome murder of Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar is a condemnable act of evil before our very eyes. Her death was an avoidable tragedy.The perpetrators must be brought to justice. The deterioration of security within the federal capital should be a matter of urgent concern to our security services.May her soul rest in peace. Amin.”
Earlier, a former aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, called on the police to take necessary actions on the matter.
“I join fellow concerned Nigerians in urgently calling on the @PoliceNG through its PPRO @PrinceMoye1 to acknowledge and respond to the unfortunate incident involving the kidnapping of Najeebah and five of her sisters #NajeebahAndHerSisters more than a week ago. The information shared by a family member @Adamu_Asiya_ this morning indicated that the kidnappers have tragically killed Najeebah as a warning and demanded a N100 million ransom for the release of the remaining victims.
“We implore the Nigeria Police to prioritise this case and deploy all necessary resources to safely rescue the remaining victims. Thank you!” he said on X.
and then