Kidnappers demand more from man, wife as family sells home, car to pay ransom

The family of retired civil servant, Yakubu Dada, abducted with his wife Lami on October 31, 2024, along the Kontagora-Tegina Road in Niger State, is facing immense hardship after raising an initial N10 million ransom by selling their home, cars, and furniture.

Despite this, the kidnappers have refused to release the couple, now demanding an additional N60 million and 10 motorcycles—terms the family cannot 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,” said Comrade Lanre Sadiq, a journalist, in a Facebook post.

The family, including Dada’s two other wives, Maimuna and Aisha, has struggled financially and emotionally to meet the kidnappers’ demands.

“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. We negotiated for weeks before they agreed to accept N10 million,” Maimuna said.

She explained how they sold everything they owned, including their house and vehicles, and even borrowed money to raise the ransom. However, after making the payment, the kidnappers escalated their demands.

“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,” she added. “We can’t even feed ourselves. My children missed their exams because we couldn’t pay their school fees.”

Maimuna also expressed concern about Lami’s health, as she suffers from diabetes.

“The last time my husband spoke to us, he begged us to raise the money and motorcycles, even if we had to beg. He told us not to let them kill him,” she said.

The local community has rallied to support the family, but resources are limited. A neighbor, Umar Haliru, shared, “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.”

The abduction is part of a broader insecurity crisis in Niger State. Twenty-three women from Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area have been held captive since February 2024. Their captors are demanding three motorcycles per person, with some women reportedly forced into labor during captivity.

Efforts to get a response from the state police command on these cases have been unsuccessful, as spokesman Wasiu Abiodun did not respond to calls or messages.