Abductors of Taraba civil servant demands N20m ransom

Abductors of Alhaji Yahaya Lau, a senior civil servant in Taraba State, have demanded N20million ransom.

Alhaji Yahaya, a senior accountant working with the state ministry of Finance, was abducted midnight by gunmen that surrounded the primary Board area of Jalingo where his house is located.

The gunmen, it was gathered, fired many shots into the air forcing residents to flee.

The gunmen, Daily Trust further gathered, forced their way into Alhaji Yahaya’s house and went straight to his bedroom and demanded for the money brought to him the previous day.

The abductors carted away millions of Naira and some valuables in the house and took away the Senior civil servant to unknown location, a family source said.

A close relation of the abducted civil servant, who pleaded anonymity, said the previous day before Alhaji Yahaya was kidnapped, proceed of fertilizer sales was brought to the house.

He said they wondered how the kidnappers knew money was brought to Alhaji Yahaya, alleging that the kidnappers might be working with an insider.

The source also revealed that the abductors have called the Senior wife of Alhaji Yahaya and demanded N20million ransom, adding that negotiation was ongoing between the family and the abductors on the ransom.

“The abductors have assured that Alhaji Yahaya is safe and healthy but warned that the amount they demanded must be given before releasing the victim,” the source said.

The police public relation officer in the Taraba police command, ASP David Misal could not be reached for comments as all his lines were switched off when our reporter called.