Kidnappers take N8m ransom, move victim to unknown destination in Kano

Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, abducted a young lady in Garo town, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State, after extorting a sum of N8 million from her family.

The gunmen, numbering 10, were said to have invaded the sleeping community in Garo town in the early hours of Sunday, with sporadic gunshots.

It was gathered that the men of the underworld may have initially targeted the residence of a popular business tycoon at the Garo Sabuwar Unguwa quarters in the community, but they eventually diverted to another family compound where they found their victim.

The victim, identified as Zainab, ran into the hands of her kidnappers after several frightening gunshots.

A resident of the area, Aminu Yakubu, told The Guardian on the telephone that Zainab’s family had opened negotiations with the assailants for the release of their daughter, who had just completed her secondary school education.

According to Yakubu, the abductors eventually extorted the sum of N8 million from the family and subsequently took Zainab to an unknown destination.

As of the time of filing this report, the kidnappers had not established communication with Zainab’s family.

“Three of them were armed with guns, while the rest carried various dangerous weapons. Residents were terrified as they brandished their weapons and fired sporadically. The attackers forced their way into the house through a smaller door, rounding up the family and creating an atmosphere of fear.

“The head of the family, in desperation, negotiated with the gunmen, offering them N8 million to ensure the safety of his family. Despite receiving the ransom, the criminals abducted the eldest daughter of the family before fleeing. The whereabouts of the young lady remain unknown. They have not contacted the family,” the eyewitness added.

When contacted for inquiry, the spokesperson for the police command in Kano, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the development.

SP Kiyawa said that the Commissioner of Police, Salman Dogo Garba, had deployed an anti-kidnapping team and other detectives to the area, while an investigation was launched.