Terrorists Abduct Government Official In Northwest Nigeria

Terrorists kidnapped Ibrahim Ma’aje, a special adviser to Governor Muhammad Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, yesterday, March 25.

Ma’aje, who is Special Adviser on Political Matters and Inter-party Relations, was taken in Mareri community of Gusau, the northwestern state’s capital at about 2:30 a.m.

Mareri came under the gang’s attack after the terrorists invaded the area on about 11 motorcycles carrying two riders each.

A resident of the area, Bala Kakale, who is also a tea vendor told HumAngle: “I was coming from my tea point to my house by foot and saw almost 11 motorcycles that were quite unfamiliar to be seen here. I suspected they might be ‘bandits’. So I had to move back and run away by a junction that links to the S.A’s house, only to be told later that Ibrahim Ma’aji was abducted that night.” 

Lukman Ibrahim, the victim’s eldest son said “we heard some suspicious movements from our backyard advancing towards the inner centre of the house. I saw them with guns on their shoulders, dressed like military forces…forcing their way into our sitting room.

When Ibrahim ventured out of his bedroom, it dawned on him that his home was being attacked by terrorists. They asked him where his father was.

“Two of them shot in the air after kidnapping our breadwinner,” Lukman said. 

Mika’ilu Aliyu, another Mareri resident who is also a relative to the government official added that the gunshots in the area made it seem like the entire Gusau city was under seige.

“Our brother is kidnapped amidst political tension in the state,” he said.

At the time this report was filed, Ma’aji’s abductors were yet to contact the victim’s family.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Zamfara State Police Command, Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached on phone.

HumAngle, however, contacted Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, the present Commissioner of Zamfara State Ministry of Security and Home Affairs on the incident. 

“Sadly, we received information about the abduction from his family and promptly embarked on a discreet investigation into the matter. We are hoping to get rid of the situation soon,” Tsafe said.

Responding to the latest attacks, the state’s Police Commissioner, Kolo Yusuf, reassured that the police authority were committed to protecting lives and property of citizens.

It could be recalled that on March 11, the Police Command rescued 14 kidnap victims after they had spent 68 days in captivity. They had been abducted in Mangoro and Gidan Maidawa villages in Gusau Local Government Area (LGA).