Terrorists have tragically taken the life of Alhaji Yakubu Bala, the Director of Works for Mariga Local Government Area in Niger State, just three days after he was kidnapped. Reports indicate that he and 23 others were abducted over the weekend from Mariga town. The family paid a ransom of N50 million, as demanded by the terrorists.
The sister of the late Director, Hajia Hadiza Abdullahi, revealed that the unfortunate incident occurred when the deceased was in his room with his two wives, one of whom was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Terrorists stormed their residence, and when they knocked on the door, one of the wives opened it. The intruders forcibly entered the house and subsequently abducted the deceased, taking him to an undisclosed location.
Abdullahi explained that three days after her brother and others were kidnapped, the bandits called for 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 were taken to the abductors in the forest before their family members were released.
“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 released victims disclosed that her brother was tied to a tree and the terrorists broke his two legs before he died adding that they were told that he was buried in a shallow grave in the forest.
She lamented that her brother left behind two wives and 10 children saying that the family is having a hard time coming to terms with his death.
The number of the state Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu Abiodun did not go when The Nation tried to contact him.
