Former Special Adviser to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has disclosed that his family spent approximately ₦175 million to secure the release of his nephew after 36 days in captivity.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV’s Politics Today, Baba-Ahmed explained that the abductors specifically targeted his nephew, Ismail Sahabi, because of his connection to government, reportedly telling him: “Your uncle is a Special Adviser… He works in the Villa.” The kidnappers initially demanded ₦25 million, motorcycles, drugs, and bags of rice.
According to him, despite providing security agencies with the suspected coordinates of the kidnappers, no rescue operation materialized. He said the family eventually made three separate cash payments totaling ₦120 million during negotiations. Baba-Ahmed also recounted an incident where soldiers unintentionally directed family members toward the kidnappers during one of the exchanges.
He revealed that his nephew returned home severely malnourished and injured. The victim reportedly described the abductors as mere custodians, alleging that ransom proceeds were collected nightly by higher-ranking figures operating within an organised chain.
Baba-Ahmed warned that kidnapping in Nigeria has evolved into a highly coordinated criminal enterprise with access to intelligence, weapons, and local networks, adding that many victims and their families are often left to navigate the ordeal on their own.
