• Demand N10m for his release
From John Adams, Minna
A boat driver, Mallam Isah Agatu from Kuduro community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, has been whisked away from the community by armed men suspected to be bandits for his alleged violation of the restrict order placed on the community by the bandits.
A reliable source close to the community, who spoke to our correspondent over the phone on the condition of anonymity for fear of being picked by the gunmen, disclosed that the bandits group who abducted the boat drive has contacted the family, asking them to pay N10 million for his release, adding that the family has only five days to bring the money or else he would be killed to serve as a warning to other members of the community.
Mallam Isah Agatu, who our source said, is the vice chairman of Boat Drivers Association in Shiroro Local Government, was picked up from his home on Wednesday for attending the Zumba market, a day before the Sallah celebration where he had gone to sell some cattle, despite the restriction order.
According to the source, a leader of one of the bandits groups, popularly known as “Chairman” had given the victim some cattle few days before the Sallah to go and sell in the market and return the proceed to enable him (bandit leader) travel for the Sallah.
An order, our source said the victim could not resist even though he was aware of the restriction order placed on the community by another bandits group not to attend the market until their demand is met.
The bandits had stopped the people from accessing the only market in the area, the Saturday market in Zumba, and threatened to kill any member of the community who violates the instruction, until their demand is met.