An Islamic cleric of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa Ikamatis-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Alhaji Muhammad Maibarga, has died while in the custody of bandits.
Maibarga was abducted alongside a friend, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
A video reportedly released by the abductors showed the cleric in a deteriorating health condition before his death was later confirmed.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the incident to journalists on Wednesday.
He said: “We are aware of reports concerning the victim’s deteriorating condition and death in captivity.”
A family friend, Usman Aliyu, said efforts were ongoing to secure the cleric’s release when he died as his condition worsened in captivity.
He said the family was still trying to meet the ransom demand by the abductors at the time of the incident.
“They are still looking for money demanded by the bandits so that he could be released to them, but we are devastated by the news of his death in the hands of those that kidnapped him,” he said.
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