By Martin Paul
Abuja
The health of a 75-year-old woman, Hajia Amina Zubair, who was kidnapped on September 10, 2016, is in a terrible condition, having been traumatised for over seven weeks without rescue.
Hajia Amina, the only surviving sister of the late Usman Maiyaki, former Executive Director of Union and AfriBank, hails from Eika Ohizenyi, Okehi local government area of Kogi state.
She ran into her captors, who initially demanded N40 million ransom, shortly after she was discharged from hospital over an undisclosed ailment, which has re-occurred as a result of her ordeal in the hands of her captors.
Reports from concerned Kogi indigenes said although the matter had been reported to security agencies, including the Divisional Police Officer, Obangede, Okehi local government, area Commander, Nigeria Police, Okene, Commissioner of Police, State Commander, SARS and the SSS, efforts to rescue the woman had proved abortive.
A statement by the concerned Kogi indigenes said Okehi local government administrator and other prominent elder statesmen from the state were also informed about the kidnap, but that the octogenarian had continued to languish in the kidnappers’ den.
“The kidnappers, initially, demanded for N40 million, but the son, Muhammed Zubair, offered N1 million and the villains rejected. The Okehi LG administrator/chairman is in the picture,” the statement stated.
It added that although some arrests had been made, over five different mobile phone numbers, used by the kidnappers to call Muhammed, had been deposited with the security agencies.
“On the first and ninth of October, the kidnappers phoned Muhammed and the mother spoke to him through the kidnappers’ phone and demanded N15 million instead of the initial N40 million and warned him that unless he acted fast they would kill her mother. They further cautioned him to desist from dealing with security agencies as such agencies are in corroboration with them.
“The son offered N2 million, but they outrightly rejected it. However, the Police made some arrests and had taken steps to rescue her, but to no avail.
“Consequent upon this, the concerned Kogi indigenes are appealing to the IGP, Army, DSS, Kogi state governor, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, NGOs, spirited citizens and religious bodies to come to the aid of the old woman with a view to saving her life.”
