bandits (1).jpg
District Head Isa Muhammad Bawa, abducted 22 days ago, pleads for government help in a video showing him bound and bloodied. The bandits reduced their ransom demand from N1 billion to N500 million, but the deadline has passed. The abduction underscores severe security issues in northern Nigeria.

A distressing video has emerged showing Isa Muhammad Bawa, the District Head of Gatawa in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, pleading for assistance from the government. In the video, Bawa, who has been held captive for 22 days, is seen in a blood-stained white garment with his hands tied behind his back. The abductors had initially demanded a ransom of N1 billion, later reducing it to N500 million, but the deadline for payment has passed.

The 74-year-old monarch was kidnapped alongside his son and younger brother while traveling on the Goronyo-Sabon Birni road after a visit to Sokoto. In his emotional plea, Bawa urged his relatives, friends, and government officials to act swiftly, expressing that even the abductors were growing frustrated by the lack of response.

Aminu Boza, a representative of Sabon Birni in the State House of Assembly, confirmed the authenticity of the video, though independent verification by Daily Trust was not possible. Bawa's appeal highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region and the urgent need for intervention to secure his release and address the broader issue of banditry in northern Nigeria.