Abducted Kwara Businessman Freed After N110 Million Ransom Payment
A businessman identified as Suleiman Ndana, popularly known as “Manager,” who was abducted last month from Tsaragi community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, has regained his freedom following the payment of a ₦110 million ransom just hours before a military rescue operation.
Sources close to the victim confirmed that Ndana was among those recovered by Nigerian Army troops during a raid on the kidnappers’ hideout on Friday. A friend of the businessman disclosed that the abductors had issued grave thr+ats as military pressure mounted in the forest where they were hiding, vowing to kill Ndana if the ransom was not paid immediately.
Under the intense ultimatum, his family and associates reportedly delivered the ₦110 million ransom at an undisclosed location. Shortly after the payment, soldiers stormed the area, leading to Ndana’s release.
His freedom marks a breakthrough for the ongoing military operation tagged Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Kwara North, even as it underscores the moral dilemma faced by families forced to negotiate with kidnappers under life-threatening circumstances.
Meanwhile, residents of Patigi Local Government Area recently staged mass protests over the worsening insecurity in Kwara North. Youths, elders, and community leaders took to the streets demanding urgent government intervention, alleging that persistent kill+ngs and abductions had crippled economic life and driven medical personnel out of local hospitals.
Protesters accused the state government and federal representatives of neglect, citing the exodus of doctors from Patigi General Hospital and the growing presence of suspected armed herders in rural settlements. They called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to deploy more security forces and relocate Kara Market, which they claim has become a hotspot for criminal activity.
The protesters warned that without swift action, insecurity could lead to total economic collapse in parts of Kwara North, lamenting that millions are lost daily to ransom payments, farm attacks, and the loss of livelihoods.
