Kidnapper pays N1.55m ransom to regain freedom after abduction

A notorious kidnapper, Mohammed Ahmadu, notorious for terrorising commuters on the Abuja-Kaduna and Abuja-Lokoja highways was abducted by another kidnap gang and had to pay N1.55 million for his freedom.

Ahmadu was said to have visited the gang’s hideout to sell ammunition when he was kidnapped and shot in the arm when he hesitated to pay the ransom.

The kingpin was among 18 suspects paraded by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, in Abuja, on Monday.

The police said Abubakar Umaru aka Buba Bargu, 35, was one of the gang leaders that abducted Ahmadu.

Mba said Umaru, who was notorious for always killing his victims, took over the leadership of the crime syndicate after the gang leader and his deputy were neutralised by security operatives.

Mba said Ahmadu had boasted he had charms and could not be shot and Umaru shot him to show how serious he was.

The police spokesman said Umaru had strong links with a major terror group in the North.

He stated, “Ahmadu is also known as ‘Confirm’ because he was a reputed marksman in the underworld. Yet, he was kidnapped and released after he paid N1.55m.”

Ahmadu, who said he had been involved in more kidnap operations than he can remember, revealed that he was abducted after supplying 90 rounds of live ammunition to Umaru.

He said Umaru was associated with the Boko Haram sect, recalling that there was a time his own gang kidnapped 20 victims at a time.

He stated, “I have saved up to N15m from these nefarious activities. I witnessed an operation where Buba (Umaru) kidnapped 55 persons from a luxurious bus at a time.”

Umaru said he had been involved in kidnapping for the past three years, adding that he operated on the highways only.

“I broke up with Buji to form my own kidnap gang because of unfairness in sharing ransom money,” he stated.  (The PUNCH)