The Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Yaqub Bello, has shared a painful personal experience with kidnapping, revealing that his child was killed by abductors after he refused to pay an ₦80 million ransom.
Speaking in a viral video, Bello recounted how his family endured months of anguish after the victim was taken by kidnappers. He said the incident occurred during the period of cash scarcity in Nigeria, popularly known as the “No Cash” era, which made it difficult for many families to respond to ransom demands.
According to Bello, the kidnappers held his child captive for more than two months while repeatedly demanding ₦80 million for the victim’s release. He explained that he was unable to meet the demand and eventually decided not to pay the ransom.
The Fulani leader said the decision had a devastating outcome, as the abductors later killed his child. He added that the tragedy remains even more painful because the family has never recovered the victim’s body.
Bello noted that his experience reflects the growing insecurity affecting many families across the country. His remarks come amid heightened concerns over the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Meanwhile, reports alleging that one of the abducted schoolchildren had died in captivity were recently dismissed by the Oyo State Police Command. The police described the claim as false and misleading, stating that no security agency involved in the rescue efforts had confirmed the death of any of the victims.
Authorities have continued rescue operations while urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing panic among residents.
