Gunmen abduct Sokoto cleric, wife, others, demand N10m

Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris

Some gunmen on Thursday abducted the General Overseer of the Sokoto State Zakat and Endowment Committee, Mallam Muhammed Maidoki.

Maidoki was reportedly abducted along with three women, including his wife, on the Abuja-Minna Road.

He was said to be coming from Abuja and heading for Kano State when the incident happened.

The PUNCH learnt that the abductors had contacted the victims’ family and demanded N10 ransom for the victims.

A family source said, “Yes, he was abducted this morning along the Abuja-Minna Road. He was coming from Abuja, where he had gone for an occasion.

“The abductors attacked his vehicle on the road, and whisked him, his wife and two other women away. They later contacted us and demanded N10m for their release.”

The source added that the incident had thrown the family into confusion, adding that they were making attempts to reach out to the state government for help.

Although the police authorities confirmed the incident, they did not agree as to which command was handling the case.

The Sokoto State Police Command said it had no clue of the abduction, adding that the case was under the jurisdiction of the Niger State Police Command.

The police spokesperson for Niger State, Bala Muhammed, said the case was under the jurisdiction of the Kaduna State Police Command.

He said, “The area where it happened is under Kaduna. Please get in touch with the police command in Kaduna.”

The police spokesperson for Kaduna State, Aliyu Usman, said the matter was under the jurisdiction of the Niger State Police Command.

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