MINNA: The former Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Alhassan Bawa Niworo, remains in the custody of abductors more than two months after his kidnapping, despite his family raising ₦30 million to meet an earlier ransom demand.
Niworo, who is over 70 years old, was abducted on September 29, 2025, alongside a Commissioner of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Barrister Ahmed, and other travellers. The victims were seized by bandits along the New Bussa–Mokwa Road while travelling to Minna.
According to the family, the abductors have now demanded an additional ₦120 million, plunging them further into financial distress after exhausting all available means to raise the initial ransom.
Speaking to journalist, the victim’s eldest son, Saifullahi Alhassan Bawa, revealed that the family had taken a ₦15 million bank loan, sold farm produce, and relied on contributions from friends and relatives to raise the ₦30 million earlier demanded by the kidnappers.
He said the family recently spoke with the abductors, who intensified pressure and allowed Niworo to speak briefly with relatives.
“Our father spoke to us in tears, pleading with us to understand his situation. We were all crying. Now they have increased the ransom to ₦120 million, which is far beyond our capacity,” Saifullahi said.
He added that his father suffers from hypertension and ulcer and requires daily medication, raising fears over his deteriorating health in captivity.
This situation is beyond our control. We are appealing to the Niger State Government to intervene and help secure his release.
Even if it means borrowing funds, we are ready to repay once he regains freedom. We are already burdened with a ₦15 million loan, he said.
The family also lamented what they described as official neglect, noting that neither the Niger State Government nor security agencies had formally reached out since the abduction, despite the fact that Niworo was on official duty when he was kidnapped.
His car and all official documents are still at the Ibi Police Station. Financially, the family is completely overstretched.
At this point, we depend on goodwill and support from individuals just to survive, Saifullahi added.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said security forces were working with the military in joint operations across the state to rescue all those still in captivity.
He assured that efforts were ongoing to dismantle banditry networks operating in the region and secure the release of abducted victims.
The continued detention of the former SUBEB chairman underscores the growing insecurity along major highways in Niger State and has renewed calls for urgent government intervention to protect citizens and rescue those already held by criminal gangs.
