Bandits have killed an Abuja-based businessman, Muhammad Shuaibu, and his 19-year-old daughter, Fatima Muhammad, despite the payment of N12 million ransom demanded.
Fatima, until her death, was a student of the University of Abuja. The deceased businessman was a trader at the Dei-Dei Modern Market in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
Our correspondent gathered that Shuaibu was abducted alongside his two daughters from their residence in Zhidu community under Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State on October 3, 2025, after armed men invaded their home.
A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers initially took the businessman and his daughters into the bush after rounding up members of the household.
The source disclosed that the abductors later demanded ransom in installments, which the family paid in three tranches N6 million, N4 million, and a final N2 million bringing the total to N12 million.
According to him, the kidnappers had earlier killed Fatima about three months ago, accusing her of being “stubborn,” even as negotiations for ransom were ongoing.
The family member explained that after the last payment of N2 million, the kidnappers instructed the bearer of the ransom to return, claiming that the businessman had died in captivity after falling seriously ill.
He also disclosed that the family had to sell the deceased’s shop at Dei-Dei Modern Market, his private car, and a sachet water production machine to raise funds for the ransom.
“The bandits even asked us to sell his house, but there was no buyer,” he added.
Efforts to get a response from the Niger State Police command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to messages sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
