Gunmen kill 19-year-old after collecting N17m ransom in Nasarawa

In a tragic turn of events, 19-year-old Nigerian student Anas Zubairu was brutally murdered by suspected kidnappers in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. Despite his family’s desperate efforts, including paying a hefty ransom of N17 million, Zubairu's life was cut short.

Zubairu, a Moroccan university student, had returned home for the holidays when he was abducted last Friday evening. After parking his car and securing the gate, he was ambushed by armed assailants who shot him in the shoulder before taking him away.

Five days later, the kidnappers demanded N30 million, which was negotiated down to N17 million. The family paid the ransom in hopes of Zubairu's safe return. However, the relief was short-lived; two days after the payment, they received the heart-wrenching news that Zubairu had been killed. The kidnappers ceased all communication following the payment, only to inform the family of his death early on Sunday.

Halima Jabiru, Zubairu’s aunt and a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Nasarawa State, confirmed the payment and the devastating outcome. Despite this confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer for Nasarawa State, DSP Ramhan Nansel, reported that the police had no information about the incident at the time of inquiry.