Family Of Abducted Retired Civil Servant And Wife Raises N10Million Ransom By Selling Home, Car, But Kidnappers Demand Additional N60Million, 10 Motorcycles
The two were abducted on October 31, 2024, along the Kontagora-Tegina Road. Now, the abductors have demanded an additional N60 million and 10 motorcycles, which the family are unable to meet.
Despite that the family of retired civil servant Mallam Yakubu Dada were forced to sell everything they owned—including their house, cars, and furniture—to raise the N10 million initially demanded by his kidnappers, Dada and his wife, Lami, remain in captivity.
The two were abducted on October 31, 2024, along the Kontagora-Tegina Road. Now, the abductors have demanded an additional N60 million and 10 motorcycles, which the family are unable to meet.
“As we celebrate the New Year in peace, let us not forget that many residents of Niger State remain in captivity, with their families losing hope of their return,” Comrade Lanre Sadiq, a journalist with Eagle Online on his Facebook page on Thursday.
The abduction of Dada and his wife has put immense financial and emotional strain on the family. Dada’s two other wives, Maimuna and Aisha, have struggled to raise the initial ransom amount, relying on the sale of their home and contributions from friends, Daily Trust earlier reported.
Maimuna, Dada’s eldest wife, described the immense hardship.
“Our husband is a retired civil servant but works as an ad hoc staff with the World Health Organisation. He was kidnapped on a Thursday, and the abductors demanded N100 million.
“But we negotiated and begged for weeks before they agreed to accept N10 million,” Maimuna said.
“We sold everything we had, including our home, cars, and valuables, and even borrowed money from friends.”
The payment of N10 million, however, did not result in their release. Instead, the kidnappers raised the ransom to N60 million and demanded 10 motorcycles.
“We haven’t been able to raise the N60 million. The house we sold is now owned by someone else, and they’ve given us a three-month notice to vacate,” Maimuna continued.
“We can’t even feed ourselves. My children missed their exams because we couldn’t pay their school fees.”
The emotional toll on the family is compounded by uncertainty. Maimuna expressed concern over the health of Lami, who suffers from diabetes.
“The last time my husband spoke to us, he begged us to raise the N60 million and motorcycles, even if we had to beg around. He told us not to let them kill him,” she said.
The community has stepped in to support the family, but they are struggling to cope. Umar Haliru, a neighbour, shared how difficult it has been to witness their suffering.
“The family has been through so much. The children couldn’t take their exams, and they don’t know when their father and wife will return.”
Meanwhile, the situation in other parts of the state is equally dire. Twenty-three women from Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area have been in captivity since February 2024, as their families are unable to pay the ransom.
Mallam Musa Allawa, a local resident, revealed that the kidnappers are demanding three motorcycles for each of the women.
“The women who were released earlier have been exploited. They had to do domestic chores and work on the kidnappers’ farms,” Allawa said.
Efforts made by SaharaReporters to reach the state police command for comments and updates on the abductions failed as its spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, did not answer calls to his mobile line. He also did not reply to a message sent to him.
