We Usually Target Newly-Wed Women For kidnapping, Says Suspect

A suspected kidnapper who was arrested by the Police in Niger State has confessed that his gang usually targetted newlywed women for kidnapping to extort money from their bridegroom.

The suspect, Mohammed Yakubu, 25, was said to have kidnapped his victim one Halima Ibrahim on May 11 and held her in captivity for over two weeks while demanding N150,000 ransom before her release.
Yakubu stated that members of his gang were interested in kidnapping newly-wed women or those about to wed because their husbands/fiancés would be prepared to pay ransom.
Yakubu confessed to Northern City News on Thursday that he kidnapped Halima with the intent of extorting money from her would-be husband, who also resides in the same area.
“We are from the Katcha Local Government Area of the state. I knew that Aliyu Musa has proposed to Halima and I knew he would do anything to secure her freedom, hence I kidnapped her.
“I called him with her number and told him that she had been kidnapped and ordered him to drop the sum of N150,000 in a location if he wanted her released. He offered to pay N65,000.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muhammad Abubakar, confirmed the incident, saying a team of policemen attached to the Kpakungu Police Station apprehended the suspect following a tip-off.
Abubakar said the victim was rescued by the police personnel, adding that the matter had been charged to court.