Daud Olatunji
The family of a 47-year-old farmer, Ibrahim Kadafa, has accused suspected bandits of killing him after collecting a ransom of N56m for his release, describing the incident as a betrayal that has left them devastated.
Kadafa, a native of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was reportedly abducted at Audi Janguan Village, beyond Olam Farm, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
Despite the reported payment of the N56m ransom demanded by his abductors, the farmer was allegedly killed, with his lifeless body subsequently recovered.
The family said the circumstances surrounding his death had compounded their grief, particularly because they had raised and paid the ransom in the hope of securing his safe return.
A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the killing as heartbreaking, accusing the abductors of reneging on their promise to release Kadafa after collecting the money.
The family also expressed frustration with security agencies, accusing them of failing to ensure the farmer’s safe rescue despite the reported payment of the ransom.
Kadafa’s burial has been scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026, in Kaduna.
In a related development, unconfirmed reports indicated that another victim, identified as Mustapha Shelpidi, who was said to be Kadafa’s friend, was murdered by the same suspected bandits three days before the farmer’s body was recovered.
The latest killing has heightened concerns over the worsening security situation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, a major transportation corridor that has repeatedly witnessed kidnappings and other violent attacks.
Farmers, commuters and residents of communities along the route have continued to face threats from criminal gangs operating in the area, with abductions for ransom remaining a major security challenge.
Kadafa’s death also comes at a critical period of the agricultural calendar, as farmers across the country are harvesting their crops, raising further concerns about the safety of rural communities and agricultural workers.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the growing menace of kidnapping for ransom and the vulnerability of families forced to mobilise huge sums of money to secure the release of abducted relatives.
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