Kidnappers killed traditional ruler, seven others after collecting N10m ransom

Juliana Francis

Mrs. Victoria Galadima and her family members have been plunged into mourning following the discovery of the corpse of her husband, Dr. Maiwada Galadima, a first class traditional ruler of Adara Chiefdom in Kaduna State.

Maiwada was shot to death by a gang of kidnappers, who abducted him and several other passengers plying the Kachia- Kaduna High Way

Victoria, who was among the abducted victims, was later set free by the kidnappers for reasons yet known, but her husband was kept captive.

A week after the abduction, the bloodied corpse of Maiwada was found on the road. This discovery brought to an end, Victoria’s long week of vigil, prayer and fasting for the safe return of her husband.

The reasons the kidnappers murdered the chief is not clear, even after family members raised N10m ransom as demanded by the hoodlums.

A police source said: “The chief was murdered after he was kidnapped alongside his wife and several other people by a gang of armed men, who abducted them along the Kachia- Kaduna High Way. The chief’s driver was also killed. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has deployed a crack team of operatives, drafted from his Special Intelligence Response Team, (IRT), led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, to Kachia, Katari and Birnin Gwari areas of Kaduna State to hunt down the kidnappers, who are suspected to be members of a notorious Fulani bandits that had been terrorizing major highways within Kaduna and Zamfara states.”

IRT operatives’ preliminary investigationsmrevealed that the paramount ruler was murdered, after a week in captivity and payment of N10m ransom to his kidnappers.

“After payment of the ransom, the kidnappers brought out the 64-year-old traditional ruler and some other people who they kidnapped alongside him, excluding his wife, Victoria, who they had release three days before then, to the entrance of a forest within Katari area of the state, and shot him to death. They killed him right at the spot. One of the victims who tried to escape, received a bullet wound on his foot,” said a police source.

The source continued: “The sound of the shootings attracted residents of a small village within the Katari area. The villagers later found the ruler in a pool of blood.”

The murder of Maiwada caused protesters to take to the streets, later leading to 24 hours curfew imposed by the Kaduna State Government.

A police source further explained: “Eight persons including the traditional ruler lost their lives. The kidnappers killed seven persons on October 19, 2018, when they kidnapped the paramount ruler and his wife. The kidnappers mounted a road block on Ibom axis of the Kachai Kaduna Expressway, where they intercepted over five vehicles. They killed the chief’s police orderly right at the spot. All the victims were shot on their heads, at close range. We saw bullet holes at the spot where we found their bodies. Another victim was found burnt to death inside a car at the scene. We also found a victim that had bullet shot into his ear.

“One week after the kidnapping and ransom payment to the kidnappers for the release of the traditional ruler and others, we got news that he had been killed. We learned one of the kidnappers simply opened fire, killing him. No one can explain why they did what they did."

While relaying the IGP’s condolence message and resolve to bring the bloodthirsty kidnappers to justice, Kyari told Victoria and some chiefs at the palace, that the IGP has directed him and his men to fish out the kidnappers and bring them to justice.

Kyari added:" I want to assure you that the IGP is sad about this incident and has directed my men and I to go after these kidnappers. We will not rest until they have been arrested. As I speak with you, we have got some leads and we’re working on them.”

The Permanent Representative of the late paramount ruler, Chief Steven Garuba, thanked the IGP for his concern, which he said showed that government has not abandoned his people. He also urged the IGP not to renege on his promise in hunting down the kidnappers.