Yakubu Dada, a retired civil servant who was kidnapped alongside his youngest wife in Niger State last year, has finally regained his freedom after spending seven months in captivity.

Dada was released on Monday, June 2, 2025, after his family paid an additional N20 million ransom to his captors, bringing the total ransom payment to N30 million over the period of his captivity.

The victim and his youngest wife, Lami, were abducted on October 31, 2024, while traveling along Kontagora Road in Niger State. Tragically, the bandits killed Lami in early May 2025 to pressure the family into meeting their demands.

Family Forced to Sell Everything

According to Maimuna, Dada's eldest wife, the family had previously paid N10 million in November 2024 after selling nearly all their possessions, including their house, two cars, and household items. The payment was reportedly delivered by Dada's younger brother in a forest in Kebbi State.

"After collecting the initial N10 million, the kidnappers demanded an additional N60 million, which they later reduced to N20 million and four Bajaj motorcycles," Maimuna explained. The bandits threatened to kill Dada if their demands were not met.

Following the payment of the additional N20 million, the kidnappers released Dada and abandoned him near Kotonkoro in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State. While he had not yet returned home at the time of reporting, the family expressed relief over his release.

Rising Kidnapping Crisis

This case highlights the growing kidnapping crisis in northern Nigeria, where bandits increasingly target civilians for ransom. Victims' families often face impossible choices, selling their life savings and assets to secure the release of their loved ones.

Dada, a resident of the Brighter Area of Minna, was just a few kilometers from Kontagora when the incident occurred. His ordeal represents one of the longest kidnapping cases reported in the region in recent months.

Security experts continue to call for more comprehensive approaches to addressing the banditry and kidnapping epidemic affecting several states in Nigeria's north-central and northwestern regions.