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Open Free AccountResidents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighboring Niger State have been thrown into mourning following the tragic killing of a prominent businessman, Muhammad Shuaibu, and his 19-year-old daughter, Fatima, by suspected bandits despite the payment of a ₦12 million ransom demanded by their abductors.
The heartbreaking incident has once again highlighted the growing insecurity and kidnapping crisis affecting communities around the nation’s capital.
Muhammad Shuaibu, a well-known trader at the Dei-Dei Modern Market in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, was abducted on October 3, 2025, alongside his two daughters.
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Publish NowAccording to reports, armed men stormed the family residence in Zhidu community, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, during the night.
The attackers reportedly rounded up members of the household before forcibly taking Shuaibu and his daughters into the nearby forest.
The violent abduction left the community in shock, as kidnappings in areas bordering the FCT and Niger State have become increasingly frequent in recent years.
A family member who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that the kidnappers later contacted the family and demanded a ransom for the release of the victims.
Desperate to save their loved ones, the family struggled to raise the funds requested by the abductors.
The ransom was reportedly paid in three installments:
- ₦6 million (first payment)
- ₦4 million (second payment)
- ₦2 million (final payment)
This brought the total ransom paid to ₦12 million.
“Everything was paid exactly as they demanded,” the family source explained.
Despite the negotiations and payments, tragedy struck when the bandits reportedly killed Fatima while she was still in captivity.
Fatima, who was a student of the University of Abuja, was allegedly killed about three months before the final ransom payment.
According to the family source, the kidnappers accused the young student of being “stubborn” before taking her life.
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The revelation has further deepened the grief of the family and shocked members of the community.
After receiving the final ₦2 million payment, the kidnappers reportedly told the person who delivered the money to return home.
They later informed the family that the businessman had fallen seriously ill while in captivity and eventually died.
The claim has not been independently verified, but the development has devastated the family who had hoped the ransom would secure the safe release of their loved ones.
In their desperate effort to raise the ransom money, the family reportedly sold several valuable assets belonging to the late businessman.
These included:
- His shop at Dei-Dei Modern Market
- His private vehicle
- A sachet water production machine
The kidnappers allegedly also instructed the family to sell their house to raise more money, but the family was unable to find a buyer at the time.
Rising Security Concerns
The tragic incident has reignited concerns over the increasing wave of kidnappings and bandit attacks in communities around the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring states.
Residents of areas bordering Niger State and Abuja have repeatedly called on security agencies to strengthen surveillance and deploy more personnel to curb the activities of criminal groups operating in the region.
Many locals say the worsening security situation has forced people to live in constant fear, especially in rural communities.
Security analysts and community leaders have urged authorities to take urgent steps to address the growing threat of banditry.
They emphasize the need for improved intelligence gathering, stronger community policing, and increased collaboration between security agencies to prevent further tragedies.
For the family of Muhammad Shuaibu and Fatima, however, the loss remains an immeasurable tragedy that underscores the devastating human cost of Nigeria’s security challenges.
The killing of Muhammad Shuaibu and his daughter despite the payment of ransom highlights the dangerous reality many Nigerian families face when dealing with kidnappers. Security experts warn that ransom payments do not always guarantee victims’ safety, making the fight against banditry and kidnapping one of the most urgent challenges confronting Nigeria today.
