Kidnapped Niger LG secretary regains freedom

Aminu Najumei, the Chairman of Munya Local Government Area in Niger State, has confirmed that the council secretary, Daina Usman, escaped from his abductors less than 24 hours after being kidnapped.  

According to Najumei, Usman managed to break free while the bandits were scouting for a secure hideout. The daring escape occurred on Friday, following the abduction on Thursday night.

Reports indicate that the assailants had stormed Usman’s residence near the riverbank in Sarkin Pawa around 10 p.m., taking him, his wife, two children, and another individual captive.

It was, however, gathered that the council secretary escaped when the bandits were trying to take them to a hiding place, leaving his wife and children.

It was gathered that after the secretary and others were abducted, the bandits fled with the hostages into the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to a security source, while Sarkin Pawa, where the victims were abducted, is an area frequently targeted by bandits and terrorists for their attacks, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State is notorious as a known escape route for criminal elements operating in the area.

It was further gathered that upon receiving a distress call from local vigilantes, security operatives mobilised a joint task force comprising military personnel from the Forward Operating Base, Sarkin Pawa, Niger State Police Tactical Teams, and local vigilante groups on a manhunt for the kidnappers.

The security operatives were said to have followed the trail of the bandits to Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where they launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation to track down the bandits and ensure the safety of the victims.

The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the abduction to our correspondent, saying that the council secretary.

He said efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining victims, saying the efforts for their rescue were in progress.

“He was abducted yesterday around 10 pm, and he was released early this morning around 3 am. Efforts to rescue others are in progress,” Abiodun said in a terse WhatsApp message.