Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has denied reports that two kidnapped men claiming to be his younger brothers are related to him. The governor dismissed the claims as a desperate attempt by bandits to attract attention.
The incident came to light after a disturbing video surfaced showing two abducted men forced by hooded gunmen to say they were siblings of the governor. In the video, the victims urged the governor to pay ransom for their release, warning that they would be killed if the demand was not met.
Reacting to the video, Governor Lawal said the bandits were using this tactic to boost the morale of their members amid ongoing security challenges. He clarified that he has only one sibling, a sister, and that the kidnapped men are not related to him.
“The government is working tirelessly to rescue the victims and reunite them with their families,” his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, stated.
The governor urged the public not to be misled by the bandits’ new ploy, which he described as a sad reflection of the bandits’ desperation.