The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Saturday arrested two members of a gang that abducted Dr. Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa, son of the late prime minister of Nigeria, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who was kidnapped on Friday night at the business premises of his wife.
Tafawa-Balewa had gone to visit his wife in the Federal Capital Territory, when two men accosted him and took him away at gunpoint to a hideout in Mpampe area of the city.
He was taken to a hilly area where he managed to escape from his kidnappers. The gang was said to have demanded a N100m ransom from his family.
Photo:Late Father of the Victim
Tafawa-Balewa’s family and friends were already making arrangements to pay the sum to secure his release when he escaped from his kidnappers.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the FCT Police Commissioner, John Haruna, explained that a suspected member of the gang, Adamu Adamu, who was arrested when he came to collect the ransom, led the police to their hideout where another suspect was apprehended.
He suffered gunshot wounds and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Two other suspects are being sought, he added.
Tafawa-Balewa stated that the gang took him away in a Honda car and seized his wallet and wristwatch. The car was recovered in Minna, Niger State where it was taken to after the operation.
Speaking with newsmen, Tafawa-Balewa said, “It was raining when they took me away, so I had no idea where they took me to. But I know that we ended up on a mountain. But when I got an opportunity to escape, I took it.
When I came out, I saw policemen searching everywhere, I didn’t know they were looking for me.”
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