A former Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Alhassan Bawa-Niworo, has regained freedom after spending seven months in the custody of bandits.
Bawa-Niworo was abducted on September 29, 2025, along the New Bussa-Mokwa Road while travelling to Minna, the Niger State capital.
Confirming his release on Monday, the victim’s eldest son, Saifullah Bawa-Niworo, disclosed that the former SUBEB chairman was freed by his abductors on Sunday.
According to him, the family had earlier paid N30 million ransom to secure his release, but the kidnappers allegedly failed to release the victim and later demanded an additional N120 million.
Saifullah explained that the initial ransom payment was raised through bank loans and financial contributions from friends and family members.
He, however, declined to state whether any further payment was made before his father eventually regained freedom.
The development has brought relief to family members and associates who had waited anxiously for his return since his abduction several months ago.
When contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said the command had yet to receive official information regarding the former SUBEB chairman’s release.