Kidnappers operating along the Kaduna-Abuja highway have reportedly killed a farmer, Ibrahim Kadafa, popularly known as Ibro, after collecting a ₦56 million ransom from his family.
Kadafa was abducted alongside his friend, Mustapha Shelpidi, while harvesting soybeans on his farm around kilometre 30 of the Kaduna-Abuja highway on October 28, 2026.
According to Silverbird Television, Kadafa, who was based in Abuja, had travelled to supervise activities on his farm when armed men attacked and abducted him and his friend.
Family sources said the kidnappers initially demanded ₦100 million but later reduced the ransom to ₦80 million following negotiations.
The family reportedly paid ₦56 million, alongside three brand-new mobile phones and a recharge card worth ₦20,000, in an effort to secure his release.
However, after weeks of negotiations and payment, the kidnappers handed over Kadafa’s corpse to his family on Wednesday, November 11.
A family source disclosed that the deceased sustained a gunshot injury to his leg while attempting to escape during the abduction but allegedly received no medical attention throughout his two weeks in captivity.
The family suspects that complications from the untreated injury may have contributed to his death.
A neighbour, Micah Jaja, who spoke to Weekend Trust, said the incident had left the family devastated.
“Honestly, the family is in shock. In fact, they don’t even want to talk about it at the moment because they are mourning. It is really a sad incident. Just pray for them please,” he said.
Jaja said Kadafa was an indigene of Adamawa State and confirmed that the abduction occurred along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
He added that the deceased had yet to be buried as of the time of filing the report.
A senior security official familiar with the incident also confirmed to Weekend Trust that the corpse was recovered from the forest and taken to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna.
The official described the incident as unfortunate and condemned the abductors for allegedly collecting the ransom and other items before returning the victim’s body to his family.
Efforts to obtain the Kaduna State Police Command’s reaction were unsuccessful, as its Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan, could not be reached for comments.
