Kidnappers of Ahmad Sulaiman, a famous Islamic scholar and supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, have demanded a ransom of N300 million before his release, Premium Times reports.
Sulaiman offered prayers publicly at campaigns grounds for Mr Buhari’s re-election.
He was kidnapped on his way to Kano after attending a religious function in Kebbi State.
According to a clip PRNigeria said it obtained, the kidnappers are demanding N300 million as ransom.
The supposed ringleader of the gang spoke in Hausa with a close associate of the kidnapped scholar, saying they were mandated by an influential politician to abduct and kill Sulaiman.
“But in the meantime, you (his people) should first raise the three hundred million we will return back to the politician. And then, you will also give us money for fueling the vehicle we used to convey him to Kebbi.
“But if you people cannot raise the money we demanded, we will not hesitate to eliminate Mallam, and collect the additional sum the politician promised us if we should kill him,” the kidnapper told the cleric’s sympathiser, in the nine-minute telephone chat.
Governor Aminu Masari on Tuesday met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some security chiefs over rise in kidnapping and banditry in the state.
The governor’s mother-in-law was also recently released from the grip of kidnappers.