Bandits have killed an Abuja-based businessman, Muhammad Shuaibu, and his 19-year-old daughter, Fatima, despite the payment of a N12 million ransom demanded by their abductors.
Fatima, before her death, was a student of the University of Abuja, while her father traded at the Dei-Dei Modern Market in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
Shuaibu was kidnapped alongside his two daughters on October 3, 2025, when armed men attacked their residence in Zhidu community in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.
A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims were taken into the bush after the attackers raided their home and gathered members of the household.
The source revealed that the kidnappers demanded ransom in stages, which the family paid in three installments—N6 million, N4 million, and N2 million—bringing the total to N12 million.
According to the source, Fatima was killed about three months ago while negotiations were still ongoing, with the abductors accusing her of being “stubborn.”
After the final payment of N2 million, the kidnappers reportedly asked the person delivering the ransom to return, claiming that Shuaibu had died in captivity after falling seriously ill.
The family member also disclosed that the family sold the victim’s shop at Dei-Dei Modern Market, his private car, and a sachet water production machine to raise the ransom.
“The bandits even asked us to sell his house, but there was no buyer,” the source added.
