Kidnappers Of Ex Gov Dariye's Father Demands $10m

There was pandemonium in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday, following invasion of the council by suspected Fulani gunmen, who kidnapped the father of the former governor of the state, Pa Defwan Dariye, amidst confusion.

Pa Dariye is the father of former Governor Joshua Dariye and serving senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Plateau Central in the National Assembly.

It was learnt that the gunmen, numbering about nine, forced their ways into the family compound of the victim in Mushere village, on Saturday and released several gunshots into the air to scare away anyone that might attempt to serve as a stumbling block to the dreaded operation.

A source close to the family revealed that the gunmen, who arrived the compound at about 7:30 p.m went straight into the old man’s apartment within the compound and whisked the 87-year-old man away on a motorcycle and headed towards Wamba Road.

It was gathered that in the operation that lasted less than 10 minutes, nobody was injured both within and outside the premises, thereby making the people of the community to conclude that they came for the old man.

The family source further disclosed that those who carried out the dastardly act were suspected to be Fulani herdsmen because throughout the operation, they communicated in Fulani Language, while efforts by some people, who gave the kidnappers a hot chase after incident, did not yield any result.

Meanwhile, the gunmen that kidnapped Senator Dariye’s father, Defweng, have asked for $10 million as ransom.

``We have just confirmed that the kidnappers dropped a letter in which they asked for $10 million,’’ Major General Dave Enetie, Commander of the Special Task Force (STF), maintaining security in Plateau State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, on Sunday.

He said the kidnappers also left telephone numbers to facilitate contacts with the family of their victim.

``We are trying to get a copy of the letter and the phone numbers to help our efforts to secure the release of Dariye’s father,’’ he said.

Mr Abu Emmanuel, Plateau Police Public Relations Officer, has said the police had visited the site of the incident and even picked up shells of bullets shot by the gunmen.

``There is already a search and rescue team and we hope we should be able to arrive at something as soon as possible,’’ he said.

Enetie said that STF personnel had been dispatched to nooks and crannies of the state to locate the kidnappers,in addition to the efforts of search teams combing neighbouring states.

NAN reports that Dafweng was kidnapped by gunmen, who had invaded the Dariye family compound, shooting sporadically and scaring away people

The gunmen then took the old man, dressed him in women’s clothes, and sped off with him on a motorcycle