Niger Deputy Governor's Brother Kidnapped

Malam Ayuba Ibeto, the younger brother of Niger State deputy governor, Ahmed Musa Ibeto was kidnapped at about 10 pm on Friday in Ibeto, Magama Local Government Area of the state, reports say. He was was kidnapped in the family house of the deputy governor in Ibeto town by a six-man armed gang. A close aide to the deputy governor who spoke in confidence said: “the kidnappers arrived the family house of the deputy governor in two vehicles, a Golf car and Hilux Van on Friday at around 10 pm. They started shooting in the air before kidnapping Ayuba who just wedded.” The family learnt that Ayuba pleaded with his kidnappers Saturday morning to speak with his aged sick mother, a plead that was turned down. “Instead, the kidnappers used Ayuba’s phone to call his mother and told her that her son is safe but they told the old woman all they need was money,” the aide disclosed. The Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Bala Bitrus confirmed the incident in a telephone chat. As stated by him, “some gunmen stormed the family house of the deputy Governor and went away with his younger brother on Friday night”. He was unable to ascertain whether the kidnap was politically motivated as the details of the incident was still sketchy. He however said that from testimonies of eye witnesses at the scene of the kidnap, “it was as if the kidnappers wanted to kidnap anybody that is related to the deputy Governor”.