TheCable

Bandits who abducted six sisters and their father in the Bwari area council of the federal capital territory (FCT) have threatened to kill more girls if N100 million ransom is not paid.

In a statement on Sunday, a family member of the girls who pleaded not to be named for security reasons, said the abductors “killed” one of them and disposed of the corpse at an unknown location.

On January 5, gunmen invaded the residence of the family in the Zuma 1 area of Bwari and abducted six sisters, including their father.

During the attack, two policemen were reported shot by the gunmen.

The family member said the abductors later released the father of the girls on the condition that he would get the ransom.

One Adamu Asiya, who claimed to be a family member, in a post on Sunday,  said the kidnappers increased the ransom from N60 million to N65 million after one of the girls was killed.

However, according to the statement released today, the bandits have threatened to kill more persons if the N100 million ransom was not paid.

“On Tuesday 2nd of January around 9:00 pm kidnappers struck and took away a father and his six children (all girls) at Zuma 1 after Bwari FCT before Veritas University,” the statement reads.

“The junior brother that was contacted on distressed call died during the attack.

“The father was released 48hrs after to bring #60m ransom. We were contacted last night Friday 12th Jan around 7pm to bring the money and later called around 10:30pm same night telling us they have killed one of the girls and even describe the location for us to pick the corpse.”

The family member added that the abductors threatened to kill more persons if the payment was delayed.

“While were we at the point of picking up the corpse, they called again raising the ransom to #100m insisting that any attempt in delaying the payment will be melted with equal treatment.

“These are the phone numbers being used by the abductors. 07016250005 and 0912 391 5983.”

Meanwhile, Muyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigeria police force (NPF), said they are working on “initiating a comprehensive action plan” to ensure the girls and others abducted are rescued.

Reacting to the development, Isa Pantami, former minister of communications and digital economy, said someone has volunteered to pay the remaining N50 million out of the initial N60 million the bandits demanded.

“Alhamdu lil Laah! I am personally not in support of paying ransom to criminals. However, since it becomes clear, we lost our daughter Nabeeha yesterday, and the 5 remaining daughters have been threatened, as I spoke with the father on the matter yesterday and today,” Pantami wrote on X.

“Furthermore, I spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60m immediately.

“I conveyed the account number of the father of our daughters, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, to the friend and brother to send the money directly.

“Any additional amount earlier generated from yesterday, the father can use to treat the daughters and other family members in sha Allah.

“May the Almighty Allah reward the bother and friend with Jannatul Firdaus for the donation. May He also reward all those who contributed in any way with Jannatul Firdaus, too.

“May He also forgive Nabeeha and rescue her sisters. May the Almighty also help our security agencies to bring an end to these challenges. May Nigeria be a better place for all of us.”