Rafiu Oriyomi Ajakaye
03 August 2016•Update: 03 August 2016
By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS, Nigeria
A Nigerian member of parliament has been abducted by unknown attackers in the country’s northwest – just two months after a senior foreign official was kidnapped in the same area.
Sani Bello Mashi was taken late on Tuesday as he was being driven to his farm with an aide in northwestern Kaduna state, according to government minister Hadi Sirika.
Bello represents the Mashi/Dvisi constituency in Nigeria’s 360-member House of Representatives.
Anadolu Agency understands that the lawmaker was abducted along with one of his aides but the kidnappers left the vehicle's driver.
“They were abducted around 5 p.m. [1600 GMT] precisely in Gobrawa village in Kaduna where his farm is located,” Abubakar Adamu, another aide to the lawmaker, told Anadolu Agency by phone on Wednesday morning.
“The abductors have not contacted us or anybody at the moment. We have reported the incident to the police and other relevant government agencies,” Adamu added.
There is no indication yet as to why Bello was targeted but many abductions - particularly at this time when there is no election taking place - are for ransom demands which can run to millions of naira.
High-profile abductions are becoming a trend in many parts of the country, especially in the Kaduna axis.
Sierra Leone's deputy high commissioner to Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Alfred Nelson-Williams, was kidnapped in the state two months ago. He has since been freed but it is not clear if any ransom had been paid. His abductors had demanded for $150,000.
