By Mohammed Bello Doka
The saga of the Al-Kadriyar family's kidnapping took a tragic turn with the release of the five abducted girls, shedding light on conflicting narratives between law enforcement and the family.
Daily Trust brings to light the chilling events that transpired on January 2, when armed bandits abducted five sisters, including Nabeeha, and their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, from their residence in Zuma 1 area, on the outskirts of Bwari town, FCT. Tragically, an uncle leading a police rescue team lost his life during a failed attempt to liberate the family around 9 pm on the fateful day.
Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar was released three days later with a demand for a N60 million ransom, subsequently increased to N100 million, and a deadline set for last Wednesday. Unable to meet the demand, the bandits reportedly killed Nabeeha, a 400-level Biological Science student at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, around 9 pm on the specified date.
The FCT police command, in a statement issued on Sunday through FCT Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh, claimed the successful rescue of the victims. The statement credited the efforts of the Anti-Kidnapping squad and Nigerian Army, stating that the rescue took place around Kajuru forest in Kaduna state at about 11:30 pm on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
However, the family contradicted the police statement, asserting that the girls were released after a ransom was paid, not through a police-led rescue operation.
Uncle to the victims, Jamiu Salman, recounted receiving a call from one of the released sisters around 8 pm on Saturday, providing details of their release. Salman, along with a younger brother to their father, sought military assistance at Jere junction, leading to a rendezvous at a bush around Gurara Dam, where the sisters were met. They returned home after 11 pm with military escort.
Salman confirmed the payment of ransom last Wednesday but declined to disclose the amount. Mubarak Alkadriyar, a cousin on the journey to bring back the children, corroborated the family's stance, revealing that the bandits had directed them on where and who to pay the ransom. Twelve individuals, including five from the Al-Kadriyar family, were released after a collective payment made last Wednesday.
Mubarak Al-Kadriyar dismissed claims of a security-led rescue, emphasizing that the captors released the victims after the ransom was paid. He criticized the security agencies, stating they failed to prioritize citizen lives and questioned why the bandits were allowed to release the victims at their convenience without intervention. The Al-Kadriyar family now grapples with the aftermath of a tragic ordeal, with Nabeeha lost, and disputed accounts surrounding the events leading to the release of her sisters.
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