Bandits Execute Abuja Businessman and University Student After Extorting N12 Million Ransom
In a devastating escalation of Nigeria's kidnapping epidemic, bandits have brutally murdered an Abuja-based businessman, Muhammad Shuaibu, and his 19-year-old daughter, Fatima, despite the family's payment of a staggering N12 million ransom. The horrific incident underscores the extreme vulnerability of citizens to criminal gangs operating with impunity across the nation.
Abduction from Niger State Home
The tragedy began on October 3, 2025, when armed men invaded the family's residence in the Zhidu community, located within the Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State. The assailants abducted Shuaibu alongside his two daughters after rounding up all household members. The kidnappers then took their captives deep into the bush, initiating a prolonged and traumatic ordeal for the family.
Gradual Extortion and Family's Financial Ruin
A family member, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, revealed that the kidnappers demanded ransom payments in three separate installments. The family complied under duress, paying N6 million initially, followed by N4 million, and a final N2 million, totaling N12 million. To raise these enormous sums, the family was forced to sell Shuaibu's shop at the Dei-Dei Modern Market in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, his private car, and a sachet water production machine.
Murder of Daughter During Negotiations
In a particularly cruel twist, the kidnappers killed Fatima approximately three months ago, while negotiations for her father's release were still ongoing. The bandits accused the young University of Abuja student of being "stubborn," demonstrating their ruthless disregard for human life even as they continued to extort money from her grieving family.
Final Betrayal After Last Payment
After the family made the final N2 million payment, the kidnappers instructed the ransom bearer to return empty-handed, coldly claiming that Muhammad Shuaibu had died in captivity after falling seriously ill. This final act of betrayal left the family without their loved ones and financially devastated, having sacrificed virtually all their assets in a futile attempt to secure their release.
The murder of Muhammad Shuaibu and Fatima represents a chilling example of how Nigeria's kidnapping crisis has evolved into a lethal enterprise where ransom payments no longer guarantee safety. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Dei-Dei business community and academic circles at the University of Abuja, where Fatima was pursuing her education. It raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of security measures in the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring states, as citizens are left to fend for themselves against increasingly brazen criminal elements.
