A cruel attack launched by some unknown gunmen in Zamfara State, has had the state’s Director of Budget, Alhaji Hamza Salihu kidnapped, while the agency’s Deputy Director, Alhaji Kabiru Ismail was shot dead.
Yusuf Idris, the Director-General, Press Affairs to Gov. Bello Matawalle confirmed the incident in a statement released on Monday. He also revealed that the incident occurred near Kachia in Kaduna state, while the Zamfara State officials were on their way to Akwanga in Nasarawa state on an official trip.
“Zamfara State Governor, Dr Bello Matawalle, has described as terrible and disturbing, Sunday afternoon abduction of the state’s Director of Budget, Alhaji Hamza Salihu, who was abducted along with two other persons near Kachia in Kaduna State while on their way to Akwanga in Nasarawa State on an official trip.
“It is very unfortunate that while efforts are being strengthened to stop armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other crimes peacefully without any bloodshed, some bad elements who have chosen to remain unrepentant will still use security uniforms to stop and kidnap unsuspecting law abiding citizens,” he said.
Promising to liaise with Governor Nasir el-Rufai and all security agencies to rescue the victims, the Zamfara state government also revealed that a lady was shot in the leg and abandoned at the kidnap scene in a pool of blood by the abductors.
Muhammad Auwal Hamza, son of the kidnapped Zamfara State Director of Budget also confirmed the sad incident. Saying a prayer for his abducted father, he wrote on Facebook:
“We belong to Allah and to Allah we shall return.
Ladies and Gentlemen your prayers are needed.
My Dad Alh. Hamza Salihu (Zamfara State, Director of Budget and Economic Planning.) and his co-workers were kidnapped on their way from Kaduna State to Nasarawa State, O Allah!, Grant them the ability of passing your test… O Allah!, Please be their refuge and grant them a way out with ease. One of them has passed away… He’s the person of Alh. Kabir Isma’il. May Allah grant him Jannah”
