According to AbdurRasaq, the brother of the deceased baker, the tragic incident took place on January 6, 2024, as they were returning to Kaduna from Warri.
The family had gathered for the Christmas and New Year holidays, and while traveling in two buses, they were ambushed by suspected bandits. The bandits opened fire upon seeing them, causing the first bus to drive past, but the second bus was forced to stop.
Unfortunately, Tijjani Ahmadu, the baker, and 13 children were on the second bus and were subsequently kidnapped by the bandits. AbdurRasaq revealed that the family only learned about the children’s situation when they started communicating from their captivity. Tragically, Tijjani Ahmadu lost his life after being struck on the head during the attack. The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N200m but have since reduced it to N50m. AbdurRasaq last spoke to the kidnappers on Tuesday.
The individual mentioned that they discovered their brother’s body on Saturday and proceeded to bury him the next day, which was January 7. They expressed that the family was unable to gather the sum of N50m, emphasizing that it was a substantial amount of money.
One of the mothers of the children, who preferred to remain anonymous, declined to provide any updates at the moment, stating that their main concern was ensuring the safety of their children. However, Zainab, the wife of Ahmadu, confirmed her husband’s death and expressed that the family was seeking assistance in resolving the situation.
Zainab revealed that her husband was killed and that 13 children were taken by the perpetrators. In a telephone interview, she appealed for prayers and help from anyone who could provide assistance, as the family was desperate to reunite with their children. When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer requested further information regarding the incident and promised to provide a response. However, as of the time of this report, he had not yet done so.
