Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, has disclosed the successful raising of a N50 million ransom for the remaining abducted sisters of the Al-Kadriyar family.
The announcement comes in the wake of a tragic incident where bandits invaded Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), abducting a man and his six daughters.
Initially, the criminals had demanded N60 million for the release of the daughters, setting a Friday ultimatum for the ransom to be paid.
The family managed to raise N30 million, which was rejected by the abductors, leading to the tragic death of Nabeeha, the eldest daughter and a 500-level student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
After Nabeeha’s killing, the bandits increased the ransom to N100 million, threatening to harm the remaining siblings if the money wasn’t paid. In response to the escalating crisis, Prof Isa Pantami announced the positive development that a friend and brother had offered to pay the remaining N50 million of the ransom immediately.
In a statement, Pantami expressed his stance against paying ransom to criminals but acknowledged the dire circumstances faced by the Al-Kadriyar family. He conveyed the account number of the father, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, to the generous donor for a direct transfer.
The former minister extended prayers for the donor’s well-being and security for the country. Pantami also offered condolences to the family of the slain student, Nabeeha, and prayed for her soul to rest in peace. He concluded by praying for the safety of the remaining abducted sisters and called for an end to the security challenges in Nigeria.
