Katsina farmer killed after ransom paid to kidnappers

A well-known businessman and farmer in Katsina State, Bala Sanin Kawo, has been killed by bandits days after they took him hostage in Dandume Local Government Area.

Sources in the area told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Kawo was kidnapped along with one of his workers on Thursday while returning from his farm near Dantakari in Dandume LGA.

Residents familiar with the situation said the attackers later reached out to the family and asked for a ransom to free him.

The exact amount they wanted could not be confirmed as of this report. Some reports said the bandits initially asked for hundreds of millions of naira, but local sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the family was eventually told to pay five million naira.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not allowed to speak publicly, said the family quickly gathered the money and gave it to the kidnappers as directed.

But after the ransom was reportedly paid, the family was sent to a place where they allegedly found Mr Kawo’s body.

"After the ransom was delivered, the family was told to go to another place. They then found his corpse there," the source said.

PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm the details surrounding his death.

Mr Kawo was well-respected in Dandume and surrounding areas for his large-scale farming. People described him as one of the most successful farmers and employers in the region.

His death has caused deep sadness in the local government area, according to community members.

When asked on Monday, the spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said he would look into the matter and provide an update.

However, he had not given any new information by the time this report was filed.

This incident comes just two days after the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information. He died while in captivity after being kidnapped by bandits in Matazu Local Government Area.

The retired officer was taken with his wife on May 30. Katsina State officials announced his death on Saturday, and later troops rescued his wife during ongoing military actions in the area.

Katsina is one of the states hardest hit by banditry and kidnapping in North-west Nigeria. Armed groups in various local government areas keep attacking travelers, farmers, and rural communities, despite ongoing military efforts and local peace talks.

Although authorities have recently reported fewer attacks in some areas due to dialogue and increased security, cases of abduction and killings remain a serious problem in parts of the state.