Kidnappers demand fresh N260m from electoral commissioner’s family

Hajiya Rahmat Ahmed, the wife of the kidnapped Permanent Commissioner of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Barrister Ahmed Mohammed, has revealed that the abductors refused to collect the N40 million ransom raised by the family until it was converted to dollars.

Barrister Mohammed was abducted along the New Bussa–Mokwa Road on September 29, 2025, while travelling from New Bussa to Minna.

Speaking with Daily Trust, Hajiya Rahmat said the N40 million was raised through contributions from friends, colleagues and family members, as well as her husband’s personal savings.

The money was eventually paid in December 2025 after it was converted to dollars at the kidnappers’ insistence.

She, however, said the abductors have continued to hold her husband and are now demanding an additional N260 million before they will release him.

Rahmat said the family had exhausted all available means in its efforts to secure his freedom.

“We had already raised and paid N40 million with the help of his family, friends, colleagues and his savings.

“They refused to collect the money at first and insisted that we convert it to dollars before they would accept it. Even after collecting it, they are still demanding another N260 million, and we don’t know where to get that kind of money.

“It has not been easy. He is the breadwinner of our extended family. His biological children, some orphaned children he has been taking care of and many other relatives all depend on him. Since this incident happened, life has been very difficult for all of us,” she said.

Rahmat said the prolonged captivity has taken a heavy emotional and financial toll on the family, especially on the education of their children and the orphans under her husband’s care.

She explained that the children, who attend boarding schools, resumed late last term because the family struggled to raise money for their school fees and basic upkeep.

“After the holidays, they stayed at home for about two extra weeks because we were running from one place to another looking for money to pay their school fees and buy food for them,” she said.

She said her husband’s health has deteriorated during his captivity.

She said, “When I spoke with him on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, he told me he had not been feeling well. He asked me, ‘What are you people doing? Are you going to leave me inside the bush to die?’ I told him we simply do not have the N260 million they are demanding.”

Rahmat said the family has received little encouragement from the authorities since the abduction.

“We have not seen any effort from the state government. We have not heard anything,” she said.

She also disclosed that the kidnappers routinely insult family members during negotiations and have recently threatened to kill her husband if their latest ransom demand is not met.

“They recently threatened to kill him if we don’t pay the N260 million on time,” she said.

She appealed to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to intervene and help secure her husband’s release, saying the family can no longer bear the emotional and financial burden of his prolonged captivity.

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