In a tragic incident in the Katari area of Kaduna State, suspected bandits killed a 53-year-old baker, Mr Tijani Amedu, and abducted his 13 relatives, primarily children, who were traveling with him. The unfortunate event occurred on January 6, 2024, as the victims were returning to Kaduna after spending the Christmas and New Year holidays in Warri, Delta State.
Rasaq, the brother of the deceased businessman, revealed in a telephone interview that the attack happened while the family was using two buses on their journey. Bandits began shooting at them, and while the first bus managed to escape, the second was intercepted. Amedu and 13 children were on the second bus, and they were all abducted.
Communication from the children in captivity later informed the family that Amedu suffered a fatal head injury during the attack. The kidnappers initially demanded N200 million for ransom but later reduced it to N50 million during negotiations.
Despite finding Amedu’s body and laying him to rest on January 7, the family is struggling to raise the required ransom. A mother of one of the abducted children expressed concern for their children’s safety and sought help, emphasizing the urgency of their release.
Zinab, Amedu’s wife, confirmed her husband’s death and appealed for prayers and assistance. The family is currently facing challenges in meeting the ransom demand.
The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansur Hassan, has been contacted for details, but as of now, no response has been received.
Kidnappings have become a growing concern in various regions of Nigeria, prompting public outrage and calls for stronger security measures. The recent incident in Kaduna adds to the distressing trend of bandit attacks and abductions in the country.
