Bandits have set free the son of the village chief of Tekpeshe community in the Gurdi ward of Abaji Area Council of Abuja, Ibrahim Sarki, after the family purchased a solar panel, drugs and foodstuffs worth N436, 700 to them.
The bandits had on September 9, 2022, invaded the Tekpeshe community and abducted a former Councillor, Mohammed Ibrahim Tanko, alongside 16 others including the village Chief’s son, Ibrahim Sarki.
The bandits later released the ex-Councillor alongside 16 others leaving behind the Village Chief’s son in their captivity as they demanded another N8 million as ransom before the victim will be set free.
After weeks in captivity, the bandits, last week, threatened to indoctrinate the Village Chief’s son into banditry and terrorism if the family failed to raise the N8 million ransom.
Confirming the release of the Village Chief’s son through the telephone on Wednesday, the Waziri of Tekpeshe, Ibrahim Tanko, said the victim was released on Tuesday night at 9:15 pm at the neighbouring Zago village forest in Niger state.
Tanko said after pleading several times with the bandits, the family was asked to purchase a solar panel, drugs and foodstuffs which was said was worth about N436,700 for the bandits before the victim was released.
“In fact, the entire members of the community had to gather money as some people had to sell their goats, motorcycle to raise the N500,000 to purchase those items they demanded before the chief’s son was set free on Tuesday night,” he said.
He said the victim is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the Kwali Area Council of Abuja, as a result of his traumatic experience at the hands of the bandits.
The spokesperson of the FCT police command, DSP Adeh Josephine, is yet to reply to a text message sent to her about the release of the victim.
First published in Daily Trust