Bandits have killed an Abuja-based businessman, Muhammad Shuaibu, and his 19-year-old daughter, Fatima Muhammad, despite the payment of a ₦12 million ransom demanded for their release.
Fatima, who was a student of the University of Abuja, was reportedly killed during captivity, while her father later died after falling ill while still being held by the abductors.
It was gathered that the businessman, a trader at Dei-Dei Modern Market in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, was abducted alongside his two daughters on October 3, 2025.
Armed men were said to have invaded their residence in the Zhidu community, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, before taking them into the bush.
A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity with Daily Trust, said the kidnappers rounded up members of the household before whisking the businessman and his daughters away.
According to the source, the kidnappers demanded ransom in instalments, which the family eventually paid.
The payments were made in three tranches: ₦6 million, ₦4 million, and a final ₦2 million, bringing the total amount paid to ₦12 million.
However, despite the payments, the victims were not released.
The family member revealed that the abductors had earlier killed Fatima about three months ago, accusing her of being “stubborn,” even as negotiations for ransom were still ongoing.
“Fatima was killed about three months ago by the kidnappers, who accused her of being stubborn while negotiations were still ongoing,” the source said.
After the final payment of ₦2 million, the kidnappers reportedly instructed the person who delivered the ransom to return home, claiming that the businessman had died in captivity after falling seriously ill.
The development left the family devastated, having exhausted their resources to secure his release.
The source disclosed that the family sold several valuables to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers. These included the deceased’s shop at Dei-Dei Modern Market, his private car, and a sachet water production machine.
“The bandits even asked us to sell his house, but there was no buyer,” the source added.