Bandits have attacked a community in Kano state and kidnapped a lawyer identified as Hashim Abdullahi, causing massive unrest in the area.
Abdulahi was returning from a professional engagement attended by fellow legal practitioners after which the armed men ambushed him and whisked him away, with colleagues and associates calling for urgent efforts to secure his freedom and ensure his safe return to his family.
The incident which happened on Sunday while Abdullahi was returning from the recently concluded Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) National Conference
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the immediate-past National President of MULAN, Saidu Tudunwada, the victim was taken hostage by bandits while travelling back to his base after attending the association’s national conference.
Tudunwada disclosed that the kidnappers had already established contact with the lawyer’s family and associates and had presented a series of ransom demands.
He explained that the abductors initially demanded ₦200 million for Abdullahi’s release before reducing the amount to about ₦100 million.
However, as of today, the demand has been lowered to ₦50 million along with five Boxer motorcycles.
“The abductors have made contact and continued to negotiate ransom terms with the family and associates of the victim,” Tudunwada said.
Furthermore, the former MULAN president expressed deep concern over the incident and appealed to members of the legal profession and the public to offer prayers for the lawyer’s safe return.
“We pray to Allah SWT to grant him safety, protect him from all harm, and reunite him with his family in good health.
“May He bring him out of this trial safely and expose the perpetrators,” the statement read.
He also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the legal practitioner, stressing that he should be reunited with his family without further delay.