By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
The kidnappers of Zulkifiru, 25-year old son of the Auditor General of Bauchi State, Abdu Usman Aliyu, and his friend, Iliyasu Suleiman (50), have demanded N30 million as ransom.
NATIONAL ACCORD learnt that the Bauchi State Auditor General and five others including his son, daughter and friend were on their way to Kardam, his village in Tafawa Balewa local government area of the state on Saturday evening when the gunmen who were said to be trailing him opened fire and wounded him in the process.
The gunmen who thought he was dead, abandoned him and kidnapped his son and friend.
They left him in a pool of his blood before help came his way through other road users who rushed him to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical treatment.
The daughter of the Auditor General (name withheld), who was in the car when the attack happened told journalists of the demand for ransom made by the kidnappers whose number is yet to be known.
“The kidnappers have contacted us and are demanding for the sum of N30m before they can release my brother and my father’s friend.
“We are negotiating with them in order to secure their release so that they can return home to us safely. All we want is to have them back alive. We are in a state of confusion right now and we are doing everything possible to save my father’s life,” she said.
The Bauchi State Police Command through its Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who also confirmed the incident to journalists in a telephone conversation said that a manhunt for the kidnappers is ongoing.
He explained that the incident occurred Saturday evening on his way to Kardam village in Tafawa Balewa LGA because according to him, “Abdu Usman Aliyu normally go to the village every weekend to see his family and friends but lives in Bauchi” .
Wakil said that the incident was reported by one Haruna, a resident of Kardam declaring that immediately the incident was reported, Police personnel at the Tafawa Balewa Division went to the scene but the assailants had already gone away with the two victims.
He added that the Auditor General was on his way to his village with five other people (3 men and 3 women) when the gunmen who were trailing him opened fire on his car and wounded him in the process.
The Police Spokesman stated that the Auditor General struggled with the gunmen while trying to kidnap him and was shot at close range while others in the car ran away for safety.