The painful reality of kidnapping continues to haunt Niger State, with the family of a retired civil servant, Mallam Yakubu Dada, and his wife, Lami, caught in a web of desperation and financial ruin. On October 31, 2024, the couple was abducted along the dangerous Kontagora-Tegina Road. Now, despite selling their home, cars, and even borrowing from friends to meet the first ransom demand of N10 million, the kidnappers have raised the stakes. They now demand an additional N60 million and 10 motorcycles, an amount the family is unable to pay.
The ordeal began when Dada, a retired civil servant and occasional staff member with the World Health Organization (WHO), was abducted along with his wife. Initially, the kidnappers demanded a staggering N100 million for their release. However, after weeks of agonizing negotiations, the ransom was lowered to N10 million.
Maimuna, Dada’s first wife, spoke candidly about the emotional and financial toll the situation has placed on the family. “Our husband is a retired civil servant, but he still works part-time with the World Health Organization. When he was abducted, the kidnappers demanded N100 million,” Maimuna said. “After a lot of pleading, we managed to get them to accept N10 million, but it wasn’t enough. They’ve now demanded N60 million and 10 motorcycles.”
In their desperate bid to save Dada and his wife, the family sold everything they owned: their home, their cars, and even their furniture. Yet, after paying the N10 million, they were left with nothing. The house has already been sold to a new owner, and the family has been given a three-month notice to vacate. As Maimuna explained, “We can’t even feed ourselves. My children missed their exams because we couldn’t pay their school fees.”
The emotional toll on the family is equally unbearable. Maimuna, who is struggling with her children’s education and the family’s dire situation, described the impact on her health and her fears for Lami, who suffers from diabetes. “The last time my husband spoke to us, he begged us to raise the N60 million and motorcycles. He told us not to let them kill him,” Maimuna said, her voice heavy with concern.
The situation has drawn widespread sympathy from the community, who have watched in helplessness as the family has been drained of every resource they had. Umar Haliru, a neighbor, shared his thoughts on the heartbreaking situation. “The family has gone through so much. The children couldn’t take their exams, and they don’t know when their father and mother will return,” Haliru said.
Compounding the tragedy of Dada and Lami’s abduction is the ongoing crisis of kidnappings in Niger State. In the neighboring Shiroro Local Government Area, 23 women have been in captivity since February 2024. The kidnappers have reportedly demanded three motorcycles for each of the women, and the released victims have been forced into domestic servitude and labor on the kidnappers’ farms.
The story of these women has only added to the growing sense of fear and helplessness among residents of Niger State, who feel abandoned by the authorities. Mallam Musa Allawa, a local resident, provided further insight into the plight of the abducted women in Shiroro. “The women who were released earlier have been exploited. They had to do domestic chores and work on the kidnappers’ farms,” he said.
Despite the widespread nature of these abductions, efforts to secure comments from the Niger State police command have proven fruitless. SaharaReporters attempted to reach out to Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the police, but all calls and messages went unanswered.
The financial and emotional strain on Dada’s family has highlighted the severe consequences of the kidnapping epidemic in Niger State. The inability of the family to meet the latest ransom demands underscores the increasing difficulty of dealing with such extortion in a region where many families already struggle to make ends meet. As Niger State residents continue to live in fear, the government’s response to these growing threats remains uncertain.
The Dada family’s plight is a sobering reminder of the harsh realities faced by many Nigerians in areas plagued by kidnapping and banditry. With ransom demands escalating and families having to sacrifice everything they have, it remains to be seen whether they will ever see their loved ones again. As Maimuna stated, “We are living in constant fear and uncertainty, unsure of whether we will ever hold our loved ones again.”
As the world watches, the urgency for government intervention grows. If not addressed, the crisis in Niger State may become an even darker chapter in the country’s ongoing battle against criminal gangs and insecurity.
pension system, especially for those who have dedicated their lives to public service. The government must take meaningful steps to ensure that retirees, particularly those in the police force, receive the financial support they deserve after years of service to the nation. Without a doubt, this issue requires immediate attention if Nigeria is to honor the sacrifices made by its retired public servants.
