Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nine months after his family reportedly paid a staggering N40 million ransom to secure his freedom, the Permanent Commissioner of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Barrister Ahmed Mohammed, remains in captivity. His abductors have now issued a fresh, crippling demand of N300 million for his release, leaving his family devastated and desperate for government intervention, according to multiple reports published on Wednesday.
Barrister Ahmed was abducted by bandits on September 29, 2025, along the Mokwa–Ibbi Road in Borgu Local Government Area while travelling to Minna on an official assignment. The abduction occurred about four weeks before the state's local government elections, which were held on November 1, 2025. He was kidnapped alongside Alhaji Alhassan Bawa Niworo, the chairman of the Niger State Ward Development Project and a former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), their driver, and scores of other motorists and traders.
The families of the two officials have been caught in a nightmarish cycle of escalating ransom demands. According to reports from Leadership and Vanguard, the kidnappers initially demanded N30 million for each victim, which was paid. They then demanded an additional N40 million, which was also paid, bringing the total ransom paid for the two officials to N70 million. Despite these payments, the victims were not released. Speaking on behalf of the family of the NSIEC commissioner, Mallam Ayuba Abubakar told Leadership that they were able to raise the N40 million after selling some of the family's properties. "After collecting N40 million from us, the next thing was the body of the dead driver who was abducted with barrister that was released to us; the driver died in their custody," he said. "We are afraid the same fate may befall the commissioner if urgent steps are not taken, we are more afraid now that the last time they spoke to us was a month ago, they threatened to kill him if we do not bring more money and since then we have not spoken to them".
In a separate but related development, the family of Alhaji Niworo has also been subjected to a similar ordeal. His younger sister, Hajiya Kulu Mohammed Niworo, told Leadership that the bandits called about a month ago to threaten them for more money. "We took loans, family members contributed and sold our family property to raise the N30 million we gave them, even at that, they refused to release him," she said. "The last we spoke to them they threatened to kill him if we do not bring N150 million and since then we have not heard from them, we are appealing to people in positions of authority to help us rescue him alive".
According to a family member who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, the abductors contacted the family again on Monday, June 29, 2026, to ask if they were ready to pay the fresh ransom demand of N300 million. The family said it could not raise the additional N300 million, having already exhausted its resources after paying the initial ransom. A close friend of the victim, Ayuba Abubakar, also told Daily Trust that the family had done everything within its power to secure Barrister Ahmed's freedom since his abduction. "We understand that the abductors have made demands, and we are also gravely concerned by reports that Barr. Ahmed's health is seriously deteriorating," he said. "On behalf of his family, colleagues and well-wishers, I appeal for the urgent intervention of the Niger State Government and the support of all relevant security agencies to ensure his safe and immediate release".
The abduction of Barrister Ahmed and Alhaji Niworo highlights a broader pattern of insecurity and impunity in Niger State, where bandits have increasingly targeted high-profile individuals and government officials. The incident also underscores the devastating impact of kidnapping on families, who are often forced to liquidate their life savings and sell properties to pay ransoms, only to be met with more demands. For the families of the two officials, the wait for government action has become a matter of life and death. With Barrister Ahmed's health reportedly deteriorating and the bandits issuing fresh threats, the need for urgent and decisive intervention has never been more critical.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments