Terrorists who abducted Alhaji Yakubu Abdullahi Bala, the Director of Works for Mariga Local Government Area in Niger State, have brutally executed him even after receiving ransom payment from his family.
In addition to this, it’s reported that at least 23 individuals from Mariga town, who were kidnapped by these armed assailants, remain in captivity.
Bala’s abduction took place from his own home around 1 a.m. the previous weekend, as reported by THISDAY. The deceased director was with his two wives, one of whom was near full term in her pregnancy, when the terrorists knocked on their door.
Upon opening the door, one of Bala’s wives was confronted with a firearm and an explicit demand for her husband. Breaking into the house, the terrorists seized Bala and took him to an undisclosed location.
In the course of this incident, the terrorists also terrorized the surrounding community, taking a total of 25 hostages.
The deceased’s sister, Hajia Hadiza Abdullahi, verified this account to THISDAY, stating that a ransom of N50 million was demanded by the terrorists three days post her brother’s abduction.
She elaborated, “We were able to amass only a part of the ransom, but my brother was not set free.” The relatives of four other hostages managed to gather N2 million each. Upon delivery of these sums to the terrorists in the forest, their loved ones were released.
“Upon their return, we learned the horrifying news that my brother was executed by the terrorists two days post his abduction,” Abdullahi revealed.
She further detailed the gruesome circumstances of her brother’s death, as narrated by the released victims. Bala was reportedly bound to a tree, with both legs broken, bleeding profusely from his mouth and nose before succumbing to his injuries. According to the survivors, he was laid to rest in a shallow forest grave.
Following the tragic news of Bala’s demise, his second wife gave birth to a daughter via Cesarean section. Bala’s death leaves behind two grieving widows and ten children.
The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, was contacted for comment but did not respond as he was reportedly in a meeting.
