One of six sisters abducted in Abuja k!lled by bandits after family failed to provide ransom
A young lady identified as Najeebah who was kidnapped alongside her five sisters and her father in Abuja on January 9 has reportedly been killed by her abductors.
The victims were abducted on Tuesday night, January 2, 2024, in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
The bandits later freed the father to go and look for the ransom to secure the release of his children. His brother, Alhaji Abdulfatai, who led policemen to foil their abduction, was shot dead by the bandits.
The family were ordered to pay a ransom of N60 million – 10 million for each girl as ransom before Friday, January 12. However, they were unable to raise the money and the assailants reportedly killed the oldest of the six girls, Najeebah, and dumped her body somewhere for her parents to bury.
Several Nigerians took to social media to mourn the death of the deceased.
Former Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, confirmed the killing of Najeebah on Saturday night. He said he had spoken with the father of Najeebah over the remaining kidnapped girls.
“Inna lil Laahi wa inna ilaiHi Raajiun! I just read about the killing of our daughter Najeeba (400 level, ABU). I also spoke with her father about the remaining 5 of our kidnapped daughters. May Allah forgive her, rescue others & bring absolute peace to Nigeria,” he said in a post on his X handle.
Earlier, a former aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, called on the police to take necessary actions.
“I join fellow concerned Nigerians in urgently calling on the @PoliceNG through its PPRO @PrinceMoye1 to acknowledge and respond to the unfortunate incident involving the kidnapping of Najeebah and five of her sisters #NajeebahAndHerSisters more than a week ago. The information shared by a family member @Adamu_Asiya_ this morning indicated that the kidnappers have tragically killed Najeebah as a warning and demanded a N100 million ransom for the release of the remaining victims.
“We implore the Nigeria Police to prioritise this case and deploy all necessary resources to safely rescue the remaining victims. Thank you!” he said on X.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says the police have intensified efforts to rescue the victims. The statement reads:
‘’In the wake of the abduction of six young girls in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, it is vital to state that the Police Force has already initiated a comprehensive plan of action. The Force Headquarters is diligently coordinating efforts to address this and prevent any further occurrence, as all hands are on deck to rescue the victims.
However, the sensitivity of the situation necessitates discretion, and as a result, specific details are being kept confidential to avoid compromising ongoing operations.
The NPF is actively engaging and contacting individuals crucial to the rescue operations and investigation. The objective is not only to bring perpetrators to justice but also to intensify efforts in rescue operations for victims still in captivity.
Furthermore, recognizing the psychological impact on affected families, the Police are encouraging open communication with their operatives to provide support, information, and assistance to mitigate the psychological warfare imposed by kidnappers on the relatives and loved ones of their victims.
