ABUJA, Nigeria – Mediaage NG News – One of the six abducted sisters kidnapped over a week ago in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, has reportedly died in captivity, sparking outrage in the country.
They were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen at their residence in Bwari, a suburb of Abuja. Three police officers were shot before kidnapping the sisters and their father.
Nabeehah, a university undergraduate, was reportedly killed by the abductors last Friday night after the family failed to pay a ransom of $63,000 (£50,000).
According to local newspaper, Daily Trust, a relative who has been involved in rescue efforts said the kidnappers have handed over Nabeehah’s body to the family.
The abductors warned that they would kill the rest of the siblings if the ransom, which they have increased to $104,000, would not be paid by Wednesday, the relative said.
Two of the three injured policemen hit by bullets during the kidnap have also reportedly died.
Police said “all hands are on deck” to rescue the victims, without confirming Nabeehah’s reported murder.
Reacting, Peter Obi, leader of the opposition Labour Party (LP), said kidnapping in the country’s capital “is a clear pointer to how insecure the rest of the country now is”.
Another opposition leader Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) also said Nabeehah’s killing “is yet another reminder that kidnappers and bandits are operating unhindered in our country,” and called for the country’s security architecture to be “rejigged”.
It is illegal to pay ransom to kidnappers in Nigeria.