Grief and anger have gripped a family after bandits killed an Abuja businessman and his teenage daughter, even after collecting a N12 million ransom for their release.
Muhammad Shuaibu, a trader at Dei-Dei Modern Market in the Federal Capital Territory, and his 19-year-old daughter, Fatima Muhammad, were abducted during a late-night attack on their home in Zhidu community, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The attackers reportedly stormed the residence on October 3, 2025, rounding up members of the household before taking Shuaibu and his two daughters into the bush. What followed was months of desperate negotiations, fear, and financial sacrifice.
A family source disclosed that the kidnappers demanded ransom in stages, which the family paid despite severe hardship. The payments were made in three instalments—N6 million, N4 million, and a final N2 million—bringing the total to N12 million.
Tragically, the payments did not secure their safety. The source revealed that Fatima, a student of the University of Abuja, had already been killed by the abductors about three months before the final payment. She was reportedly accused of being “stubborn” while in captivity.
Hope for Shuaibu’s release was also shattered after the last ransom was delivered. The kidnappers informed the family that he had died in captivity after falling seriously ill, effectively ending any chance of reunion.
To raise the ransom, the family sold off nearly everything of value, including Shuaibu’s shop at Dei-Dei Modern Market, his car, and a sachet water production machine. The abductors reportedly pressured them further to sell his house, but no buyer was found.
Attempts to get an official response from the Niger State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
The killings have once again highlighted the deepening insecurity across parts of northern Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom continues to devastate families, often with no guarantee of survival—even after payments are made.
