The Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Alhaji Yaqub Bello, has shared a harrowing personal account of how suspected kidnappers murdered his child after he failed to meet a ₦80 million ransom demand.**
In an emotional video that has since gone viral, Bello detailed the trauma his family endured, linking his personal tragedy to the rising tide of insecurity and the ethnic profiling currently faced by the Fulani community in the state.
### A Tragic Ultimatum
According to the Seriki, the abduction occurred during the country’s “No Cash” period—a reference to the naira redesign policy that resulted in a severe cash crunch across Nigeria. He explained that the kidnappers held his child for over two months while negotiations stalled due to the staggering sum demanded.
“I, who am speaking to you, have personally experienced the pain of kidnapping. They kidnapped my children and demanded money. I told them I didn’t have it, and they held them for more than two months,” Bello said.
He further revealed that the captors refused to lower their demand of ₦80 million. “I refused to pay, and in the end, they killed my child. Up till now, I have not been able to recover the corpse,” he added.
### Countering Stigma
Bello’s revelation comes at a time of heightened tension in Oyo State, particularly following the recent abduction of school children and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area.
The Seriki noted that Fulani residents in the state have been subjected to increased stigma and ethnic profiling. He lamented that the entire community is often blamed for the actions of criminal elements, despite Fulani leaders themselves being victims of the same menace.
### Police Dismiss Rumours of Student Death
In a related development, the Oyo State Police Command has moved to quell tensions regarding the recent school abductions in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire LGA.
The Command issued a stern rebuttal on Friday against reports claiming that one of the abducted pupils had died in captivity. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, described such reports as “false, malicious, and designed to spread panic.”
“The Oyo State Police Command has observed with grave concern the circulation of an entirely unfounded report alleging that one of the school children abducted has died,” the statement read.
The Command clarified that no security agency involved in the ongoing rescue operations has confirmed any fatality. Authorities urged the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information while efforts to rescue the victims continue.
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