How man helped bandits to kidnap his own nephew’s family for just N200,000

A 50-year-old informant, Ado Haruna, has been arrested for conspiring with bandits to kidnap his nephew, Alhaji Bashiru Anas, and his family in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Despite orchestrating the abduction, which led to a ransom payment of N13 million, four new motorcycles, and N300,000 worth of Airtel recharge cards, Haruna received only N200,000 as his share.

Operatives of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) apprehended Haruna, who was among several criminal suspects paraded in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Haruna, a resident of Angwa Kanawa Dutse Abba, allegedly led three bandits—Shago Yaro, Tanimu Ayuba, and Lamido Dantajiri—to his nephew’s home, pretending to be a victim.

On the night of the attack, around 1 a.m., the gang stormed Anas’ residence but found that he was not at home. Instead, they abducted his two wives, three children, younger brother, and his brother’s wife. The victims were held captive for 60 days in Buruku Sabo Birni, where negotiations for their release took place.

Confessing to his role, Haruna said, “I’m into farming and vigilante work. It is true that I was the one who took the bandits to Alhaji Anas’ house. He is my nephew, my elder sister’s son. I knew only one of the bandits who asked me to lead them there.”

He continued, “For the 60 days his family was in the bush, I was using Anas’ phone to communicate with the bandits. They received over N10 million as ransom, but I was only given N200,000. I used it to buy maize.”

Expressing surprise at his arrest, Haruna added, “I didn’t know how the police found out about my involvement. Life pushed me into crime.”