The Niger State Police Command has verified the kidnapping of a recently hired radiographer, Basherah Ojedeyi, along with an unknown group of travelers in the Ibbi-Bussa region of the state.
This is exactly as the police had stated, following the trail of the kidnappers.
PUNCH Metro exclusively revealed on Thursday that Ojedeyi, a new graduate from Uthmam Danfodio University, was taken while traveling from Sokoto State to Osun State to start her internship.
The car she entered was reported to have experienced an issue in Mokwa, Niger State, after which she could not be contacted.
Her family also revealed that the abductors, who reached out on Tuesday, were asking for a ransom of N200m prior to her release.
In response to a previous inquiry from our reporter on Thursday, Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, verified that the abduction took place on Monday, September 29.
Abiodun mentioned that Ojedeyi was captured along with other travelers by criminals who assaulted a police unit and harmed an officer.
He stated, "On September 29, 2025, around 11:30 a.m., unidentified armed individuals targeted a police checkpoint on the Ibbi-Bussa Road. The police tactical unit confronted and drove away the aggressors, during which the police patrol car was hit by gunfire."
Meanwhile, one of the officers was wounded by a gunshot and transported to a nearby hospital for medical care.
Regrettably, the armed individuals who were escaping later obstructed the road in front of the police checkpoint and took some passengers from approximately three vehicles.
The official from the Niger police stated that a search operation has already started for the kidnappers who have fled, with continuous actions being taken to recover the kidnapped individuals.
He further stated that the command has deployed additional tactical units in collaboration with other security organizations and volunteer members, tracking the suspected abductors in an effort to free the kidnapped individuals and apprehend the criminals.
Meanwhile, when our reporter contacted Ojedeyi's family to verify the latest update, a family member revealed that the kidnappers have not communicated again since their first request.
"We still haven't heard from them once more," the source mentioned.
The Nigerian Association of Radiographers previously characterized the kidnapping as a direct attack on medical personnel throughout the nation.
They also sought assistance from President Bola Tinubu and the security forces to guarantee the safe return of the affected individuals.
The kidnapping of Ojedeyi highlights a troubling trend of healthcare workers being targeted by abductors.
PUNCH Healthwise stated in September 2024 that more than 109 healthcare professionals were kidnapped throughout Nigeria from 2019 to 2023, involving numerous cases of violence, requests for ransom, and extended detention.
These abductions of medical personnel are considered part of the larger instability that has affected vulnerable employees, particularly those seen as capable of generating significant ransoms.
The nation has also experienced significant large-scale kidnappings of students and professionals while they are traveling.
For example, 20 medical students who were taken while traveling to a conference were eventually released during a specialized operation, underscoring how extensive and critical the problem has grown.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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