Malam Ayuba Ibeto, the younger brother of Niger State deputy governor, Ahmed Musa Ibeto was reportedly kidnapped at about 10 pm on Friday in Ibeto, Magama Local Government Area of the state.
He was was kidnapped in the family house of the deputy governor in Ibeto town, some three hours drive to Minna, the state capital by a six-man armed gang.
A close aide to the deputy governor who spoke in confidence said the kidnappers sporadically shot into the air on arrival at Ibeto’s home in a Golf car and a Toyota Hilux van to scare away the residents of the area before whisking away their victim.
It was further gathered that the kidnappers called the mother of the victim with his telephone demanding an undisclosed ransom.
Recounting the incident, the aide to the deputy governor said, “the kidnappers arrived the family house of the deputy governor in two vehicles, a Golf car and Hilux Van on Friday at around 10 pm. They started shooting in the air before kidnapping Ayuba who just wedded.”
Our source said that the family gathered that Ayuba pleaded with his kidnappers Saturday morning to speak with his aged sick mother, a plead that was turned down.
“Instead, the kidnappers used Ayuba’s phone to call his mother and told her that her son is safe but they told the old woman all they need was money,” our source disclosed.
Attempts by the family to call Ayuba’s line failed as his captors have switched off as at the time of filling this report.
Contacted, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Ibrahim Gambari said the police was not aware of the incident. He simply said, “I am not aware of any incident of such nature but I will investigate”.
The Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Bala Bitrus confirmed the incident in a telephone chat. According to him, “some gunmen stormed the family house of the deputy Governor and went away with his younger brother on Friday night”.
He was unable to ascertain whether the kidnap was politically motivated as the details of the incident was still sketchy. He however said that from testimonies of eye witnesses at the scene of the kidnap, “it was as if the kidnappers wanted to kidnap anybody that is related to the deputy Governor”. Agency report
