The freed Niger State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Idris, has described his abduction by gunmen last Sunday night as a setup.
Idris, who regained his freedom Thursday night, five days after his abduction, told people in his Babantunga town in Tafa Local Government Area of the state that his abductors informed him that he was getting N200 million from Governor Abubakar Sani Bello every month.
He was abducted at his residence at Babban-Tunga village in Tafa local government area. After his release, he reportedly showed up at Kofa Dam area of Tafa local government area.
He was later debriefed and immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention.
According to his narration, those who set him up paid the gunmen and also gave them a diagram of his residence in his village and how to get him abducted.
“The gunmen insisted that they must get nothing less than N200 million out of the money the governor has been giving him,” the commissioner told the gathering in a video now circulating in the state.
He said the kidnappers later realised that the information they got was wrong.
“I left them crying, they have regretted their action. I have forgiven those that set me up and the kidnappers,” he said and urged all his well wishers to also do the same.”
He said: “Allah has promised to test us. I have forgiven the people who kidnapped me. Please don’t curse them or say anything bad against them. I left them in regret.
“The kidnappers said they were contracted to kidnap me. They are from Zamfara.”
According to him: “They don’t know me but the person who told them to kidnap me told them that the Governor gives me N200 million monthly.
“The kidnappers never knew this village before. They were given a picture of my house and that was how they came here.”
Some of the sympathisers (girls and women) were seen hugging him and shouting ‘may Allah be praised’ in what looked like an uncompleted building.
Idris however did not tell the small crowd of people how he regained his freedom, but said: “It is the work of Allah, they (kidnappers) don’t know this community, I have forgiven them here and the hereafter.”
He regained his freedom at about 9.30 pm on Thursday. His kidnappers dropped him at a spot outside Suleja town.
A statement late Thursday night by Ado Ada, a family member, expressed delight to Allah for his (commissioner) safe return, saying: “His release is wholly the family efforts and no ransom was paid.“
Thisday / The Nation
