Elderly man killed by abductors after N700,000 ransom payment

An 85-year-old man, Deh Idi Dakum, has been killed by kidnappers in Matelem Village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, despite his family paying part of the ransom demanded for his release.

Narrating the ordeal, one of the victim’s sons, Bala Dakum, revealed that his father, who held the traditional title of Galadima Nyam in the Tagur District, was abducted on the evening of November 18, 2024. Days later, his body was discovered a few kilometers from their home.

“On November 18, 2024, he was kidnapped around 7 pm in our village. The abductors took his phone and my mother’s. My brother, Moses, repeatedly called the phone and finally reached the abductors on November 19. They demanded N2 million but accepted N700,000, which we managed to raise and paid on November 20,” he explained.

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Dakum said the family insisted on speaking to their father before transferring the ransom, but the kidnappers claimed he was left in the custody of other gang members nearby. “They assured us he would be released. My brother paid the ransom, believing he’d return by daybreak, but he didn’t. The next day, the abductors promised again, but still, he was not released.”

The family’s worst fears were confirmed on November 23 when Dakum’s body was found on a farm about a kilometer from the house. “From the state of his body, it was clear he had been dead for days,” Bala said.

This was not the first time Dakum had been kidnapped. Bala recounted that his father was abducted in February 2023 and released after the family paid N500,000. “They knew everything about us, including that I’m a lawyer in Abuja. They used that to pressure us during negotiations,” he added.

The incident highlights ongoing security concerns in Matelem Village. Bala described the community, located near a border area, as vulnerable to repeated attacks, forcing many residents to flee.

The family reported the case to Plateau State’s Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adeshina, who dispatched officers to visit the family and assess the area. However, efforts to get comments from the Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful as he declined to respond and abruptly ended the call.

Residents of the area continue to grapple with insecurity, calling for greater protection from authorities.

(PUNCH)