Ex-Sokoto Local Government Chairman Sells Official Vehicle to Pay Bandits N4 Million Ransom for Abducted Family

In a shocking revelation before the judicial commission of enquiry in Sokoto State, the immediate past chairman of Gudu Local Government Council, Alhaji Bello Bachaka, disclosed that he sold his official vehicle to raise over N4 million in ransom to secure the release of his wife and two children who were abducted by bandits.

Bachaka, who served as the local government chairman from April 2021 to April 2023, provided the testimony during the commission's proceedings investigating the sales and auctions of government property. He explained that the urgent need to rescue his kidnapped family members compelled him to part with the monetized Toyota Hilux vehicle.

"I sold the vehicle that was monetized to me at the cost of N4.2 million, which was deducted from my over N5 million total gratuity and severance allowances."  — Alhaji Bello Bachaka, Former Chairman, Gudu Local Government Council

According to his account, after negotiating with the kidnappers, Bachaka delivered the agreed-upon amount to a village in Wurno Local Government Area, where the bandits were based. Following the payment, the bandits released his wife and two children unharmed.

Expressing his current plight, Bachaka urged the state government to consider the challenges faced by local government chairmen, emphasizing that they have not received their retirement benefits despite serving for two years.

"Government should consider our present predicament as our balance has not been paid. We were not given a single kobo in the name of our retirement benefit despite that we served for two years as local government chairmen."  — Alhaji Bello Bachaka

The former chairman also highlighted that the deductions made from their furniture and gratuity allowances for the Hilux Toyota vehicles were not accompanied by supporting documents, raising concerns about transparency in the process.

This revelation underscores the severe impact of insecurity in certain regions of Nigeria, compelling individuals to resort to extraordinary measures to safeguard their loved ones amid the ongoing challenges posed by banditry and kidnappings.