Abducted Abuja chief released, 3 kids still in captivity over incomplete ransom

The Sarkin Fili in Mpape community in Abuja, Peter David, has been released by his kidnappers, about a month after he was abducted.  City & Crime reported how the chief was abducted along with his wife, his three children, and four other residents by gunmen who reportedly raided the area on November 22 dressed in […]

The Sarkin Fili in Mpape community in Abuja, Peter David, has been released by his kidnappers, about a month after he was abducted. 

City & Crime reported how the chief was abducted along with his wife, his three children, and four other residents by gunmen who reportedly raided the area on November 22 dressed in military uniforms.

He was said to have been released in the early hours of Tuesday after paying N11 million ransom. He was taken to an Abuja hospital for medical attention, as he disclosed to our reporter yesterday. 

The chief lamented that his three children are, however, still with the bandits over a balance of N40 million, while his wife, who was earlier released three weeks ago, is in the hospital.

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“I learnt that she slumped after she was threatened by the bandits over the phone that I would be executed for failing to deliver a deposit of the ransom on time,” the chief added. 

He narrated that while in captivity, different bandits’ groups under the control of various gang leaders believed to have migrated from Zamfara State, brought in their victims, including some from Dei-Dei community, and also the Arab Road area of Kubwa town of the FCT.

 “They used to dress in military, police, or DSS attire that you all know. The only area where they differ is, the bandits owned more sophisticated weapons,” the chief said, adding that he didn’t know how to raise the balance of the ransom to get his three children released.

 Also speaking, a resident of the area, who preferred to remain anonymous, disclosed that a mobile phone recharge cards worth N500,000, was also delivered to the bandits, along with engine oil worth N250,000, to be used by the bandits for servicing their weapons. 

There was no statement from the FCT command over the chief’s release at the time of this report.