Kidnappers Demand N150 Million for Release of Senior Niger State Officials Following N70 Million Ransom Payment

Two Niger State officials remain in a kidnappers' den 5 months after abduction. Families have paid N70m, but captors now demand N150m and issue death threats.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 7:13 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from THISDAYLIVE

Five Months of Captivity for Senior Officials

The security situation in Niger State remains tense as two top government officials, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed and Alhaji Alhassan Bawa Niworo, continue to be held by gunmen. Alhaji Mohammed serves as a member of the State Independent National Electoral Commission (SINEC), while Alhaji Niworo is the Chairman of the Niger State Ward Development Project. Both were abducted on September 29, 2025, while traveling along the Mokwa – Ibbi-New Bussa road. Despite their high-profile status, five months of negotiations have failed to secure their freedom.

The Escalating Ransom Cycle

The families of the victims have already faced extreme financial strain in their attempts to secure a release. Initially, the kidnappers demanded and received N30 million. When the officials were not released, a second demand of N40 million was made and subsequently paid. Now, the captors have pivoted to a "whopping" demand of N150 million. Relatives report that the kidnappers have threatened to "slaughter" the duo if this latest demand is not met, a move that local analysts describe as a predatory cycle often seen in high-value abductions.

Grim Discovery and Silence from Captors

Fears for the officials' lives have intensified following a gruesome discovery. Alhaji Ayuba Abubakar, a relative of one of the victims, revealed that after the second ransom payment was collected, the family discovered the body of the driver who had been abducted alongside the officials. Furthermore, communication has broken down; the families report they have not heard from the kidnappers for over a month. The last contact consisted solely of death threats and the demand for the N150 million.