Ex-SUBEB chair still in captivity after paying ransom

The kidnapped 70-year-old former Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Alhassan Bawa Niworo, remains in captivity 73 days after his family raised N30 million through a bank loan, proceeds from the sale of his farm produce and contributions from friends and relatives to meet the terrorists’ ransom demand.

Niworo was kidnapped alongside a Commissioner of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Barrister Ahmed, and several other travellers on Monday, September 29, 2025, on the New Bussa–Mokwa Road while travelling to Minna.

His eldest son, Saifullahi Alhassan Bawa, told our correspondent that the family took a N15m loan from a commercial bank to complete the N30m ransom initially demanded, but that the abductors were now asking for an additional N120m before releasing their father.

“I spoke with the abductors recently, and one of our aunties also spoke with them. They are mounting pressure on us. Our father spoke with us in tears, asking us to understand his plight. We were all crying,” he said.

He added that his father, who was over 70 years old, depended on daily medication for hypertension and ulcer.

“This is beyond our control. We appeal to the Niger State Government to help secure his release. Even if it requires borrowing, we are ready to pay after he is freed. We already have a debt of N15m,” he said.

He also disclosed that neither the police nor the state government had reached out to the family since the incident even though his father was on official duty to Minna when he was abducted.

“His car and documents are still at the Ibi Police Station. The family is already financially overstretched. We now rely on support from individuals to feed,” he said.

The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said the police and military were engaged in joint operations across the state to secure the release of the victims.

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