How former Kano Assembly speaker paid N40 million to kidnappers for mother’s release

By MURTALA ADEWALE, Kano

The mother of former speaker of Kano state House of Assembly Hajiya Zainab Danja who was kidnapped at gunpoint has regained her freedom.

Hajiya Danja, who was abducted at her family house at Gezawa town, Gezawa local government area of Kano on 12th of January 2022, was released early Tuesday after payment of N40 million ransom to the abductors.

Confirming the release of his mother to journalists on Tuesday, the former Speaker and present minority leader of the Assembly Isiyaku Ali Danja gave glory to the Almighty that his aged mother returned alive.

Although the strong Kwankwasiyya loyalist was not categorical whether the family involved security operatives in the search and eventual release of Hajiya Danja, he, however, disclosed that he paid the abductors the sum of N40m ransom.

The Kano legislator revealed that after the settlement, the kidnappers dumped his mother in a village at a local government in Jigawa State where the family went to pick her up.

The minority leader who said he would not disclose further information about the negotiation that led to the release of his mother for security reasons revealed the old woman was found terrified.

A family source told The Guardian that the aged mother has been relocated from the village about 30 kilometers away from Kano city.

Spokesperson of Kano State police command SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa could not be reached for inquiry on the development. (The Guardian)