•Pantami
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami has disclosed that his friend has offered to pay N50million to rescue five sisters abducted by gunmen in Abuja.
It was earlier reported that there was outrage over gruesome killing of a young lady identified as Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar by the gunmen who abducted her and five other sisters.
Najeebah and her sisters were abducted on January 9, alongside their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar.
She was laid to rest according to Islamic rites yesterday.
Nabeeha was a 400-level student of biological science, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Others abducted include: Najeebah (500 level, Quantity Surveying), Nadheerah (300 level, Zoology)
It was gathered that the gunmen later released their father, asking him to go get N60m as ransom for the release of her daughters before Friday, January 12.
In a bid to raise money, Nigerians were urged to donate whatever they have into a bank account, but not enough money was gathered as of Friday.
Consequently, the hoodlums reportedly killed the oldest of the six girls, Najeebah, and dumped her body somewhere for her parents to bury.
Pantami confirmed the killing of Najeebah on Saturday night.
He said he had spoken with the father of Najeebah over the remaining kidnapped girls.
Reacting today Sunday, January 14, Pantami on his verified “X” page in a terse statement said: “Alhamdu lil Laah! I am personally not in support of paying ransom to criminals.
“However, since it becomes clear, we lost our daughter Nabeeha yesterday, and the 5 remaining daughters have been threatened, as I spoke with the father on the matter yesterday and today.
“Furthermore, I spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60m immediately.
“I conveyed the account number of the father of our daughters, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, to the friend and brother to send the money directly. Any additional amount earlier generated from yesterday, the father can use to treat the daughters and other family members in sha Allah.
“May the Almighty Allah reward the bother and friend with Jannatul Firdaus for the donation. May He also reward all those who contributed in any way with Jannatul Firdaus, too.
“May He also forgive Nabeeha and rescue her sisters. May the Almighty also help our security agencies to bring an end to these challenges. May Nigeria be a better place for all of us. I love Nigeria. #Najeebahandhersisters.”
