Serial killer, notorious kidnapper plans kidnapping father of ex-commissioner over N1.3m debt

An alleged serial killer and notorious kidnapper, Alhaji Bashiru Abdulahi, has confessed planning to kidnap the father of a former Commissioner in Niger state.

Abdulahi made the confession after he was arrested by the Nigerian Police Command in Niger.

The suspect said he owed the father of the former commissioner N1.3m from a business transaction between them and planned to get N15m from ransom.

He also confessed that he planned to kidnap a former Local Government Council Chairman of Mariga, in Niger.

Speaking on Abdulahi’s confession, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Wasiu Abiodun, said the police’s tactical team attached to Minna Area Command on July 14, at about 16:30 hours, arrested the suspect, a native of Bangi town, headquarters of Mariga LGA.

He said that the suspect was arrested at Kontagora during his planned recruitment of armed men to his gang.

Abiodun also confirmed Abdullahi’s confession.

The PPRO said, during interrogation, that the suspect confessed that he planned to kidnap a former Local Government Council Chairman of Mariga and the father of a former Commissioner in the state.

“The suspect claimed that the former chairman owed him about N5.8 million and that if the former chairman was kidnapped, he intended to realize N10 million as ransom from him.”

The command’s PRO said the suspect also confessed that part of his plan was equally to kidnap the father of the former Commissioner whom he (suspect) owed about N1.3 million from a business transaction between them.

He said the suspect said he was expecting to get N15 million ransom from the plan.

“Further investigation revealed that sometimes in March 2022, the said Alhaji Bashiru was suspected to have murdered his younger brother, one Alhaji Mamuda Abdullahi, of Bangi town, Mariga LGA.

“When the suspect was interrogated, he confessed to the act that he contributed money with his brother to the tune of N79 million for a business purpose.

“The suspect confessed that while his late brother swindled him, he hit him with a stick on the head which resulted in his death.”

The PRO said the suspect, however, told the family members that his brother was attacked and killed by bandits at Beri.

He said an investigation was ongoing aimed at arresting other suspected members of his gang