KEY POINTS

• Former Jigawa lawmaker Abba Anas died while in bandits’ captivity after being abducted on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
• The kidnappers reportedly demanded N200 million before negotiations reduced the ransom to N50 million.
• Sources said the ex-lawmaker, who suffered from asthma and hypertension, was denied access to medication while in captivity.

A former member of the House of Representatives from Jigawa State, Abba Anas, has died while in the custody of bandits after being abducted along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

The incident occurred last Wednesday while the former lawmaker was travelling from Kano to Abuja for a political meeting.

Mr Anas, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), represented the Guri, Kiri-Kasamma, and Birniwa federal constituency between 2007 and 2011. His abduction has once again highlighted the persistent insecurity and kidnapping crisis affecting major highways across northern Nigeria.

Kidnappers Demanded N200 Million Ransom

According to residents familiar with the incident, Mr Anas was kidnapped alongside his associate, Ali Tukur, near Jere. The abductors reportedly demanded an initial ransom of N200 million from the victims’ families and associates.

After days of negotiations, the ransom demand was allegedly reduced to N50 million. Mr Tukur was eventually released after the payment was made, but Mr Anas did not survive the ordeal.

Sources said the former lawmaker suffered from asthma and hypertension and was reportedly denied access to his medications while in captivity, worsening his health condition during the days he spent with the gunmen.

The death of the former legislator was confirmed by fellow ADC chieftain, Sabo Nakudu, in a statement shared on his Facebook page on Monday.

Nakudu expressed condolences to the family, praying for the late politician’s soul to rest in peace.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Jigawa State Police Command, Lawan Adam, said he had not yet received an official briefing regarding the incident when contacted for comments.

The tragic development has sparked renewed concerns over the growing wave of kidnappings along the Kaduna-Abuja corridor, a route that has repeatedly witnessed attacks on travellers, commuters, and public figures despite ongoing security operations.