Eight days after their abduction, a Katsina businessman, Anas Ahmadu, his seven-month pregnant wife, Halimatu, and their two-year-old daughter remain in captivity.
Daily Trust had earlier reported how kidnappers invaded their residence at Filin Canada quarters in Katsina metropolis on August 26, 2025.
Spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, saying the Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, visited the scene and deployed additional resources for the prompt rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators.
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However, family sources disclosed that the couple and their child are still being held by the assailants, who initially demanded N600 million ransom but later reduced it to N100 million.
“We are praying to Allah (SWT) to soften the hearts of the abductors to release them. Where can we possibly raise such an amount?” a family source lamented.
The parents of Anas also appealed to the state government to intervene and secure the release of their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
“Their abduction has put us in a very difficult situation. I cannot eat or sleep since the unfortunate incident. I pray God to set them free,” Anas’ mother, Hajiya Zainab, said.
His father also appealed to Governor Dikko Radda and security agencies for urgent intervention.
“You know what it feels like for parents to have their children kidnapped. You cannot stop worrying about their lives and well-being. But as Muslims, we surrender everything to God,” he added.
Daily Trust gathered that the attackers scaled the fence of the residence and killed a vigilante member, Abdullahi Muhammad, who had responded to a distress call from the family.
Another source close to the family said the wife is the daughter of Alhaji Usman Turare, a well-known independent petroleum marketer in Katsina.
“Her husband is a young businessman, but I don’t think he was the target. They probably came for her father, who is wealthy,” he said.
It was further gathered that the kidnappers reached out to the wife’s uncle around 9:00 p.m. yesterday, though it remains unclear whether a fresh ransom demand was made.