Terrorists kidnap 2 UDUTH staff, demand N20m ransom

Heightened fears over worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West have resurfaced following the abduction of two staff members of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, along the notorious Maru–Talata Mafara highway in Zamfara State.

The victims, identified as Malam Abdullahi of the Histopathology Department and Malam Rufae of the Microbiology Department, were reportedly kidnapped by suspected armed bandits while travelling from Abuja to Sokoto after attending a union meeting.

Sources close to the families disclosed that the incident occurred along the troubled Maru axis, a corridor long associated with recurring cases of banditry, kidnappings and violent attacks on commuters.

According to family members and associates, the abductors have already contacted relatives of the victims and are demanding a ransom of N10 million each for their release.

“The kidnappers reached out to the families and demanded N10 million from each side. The situation has thrown the families into deep distress, and they are appealing to security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene urgently,” a source close to the victims revealed.