In a heart-wrenching interview with Crusaders Radio, Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi recounted the harrowing story of his daughter, Nimatullah Suleiman, who was kidnapped and tragically lost her life shortly after her abduction. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and raised urgent questions about the ongoing security crisis in Nigeria.
Nimatullah, a bright young woman who had just completed her national service, was working at a private radio station and living in the Jahi quarter of Abuja. On the fateful evening of her kidnapping, she was dropped off at Bega Junction around 6:10 PM after a long day at work. Just ten minutes later, her life took a devastating turn.
A Call for Help: The Moment of Abduction
At approximately 6:20 PM, Nimatullah called her boss in a panic, revealing that she had been abducted. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one million Naira, a sum that her boss quickly communicated to the family. In a desperate attempt to secure her release, efforts were made to gather the funds, but the exact amount transferred to the kidnappers remains unclear.
As the family scrambled to respond, Nimatullah’s uncle, Dauda, who was in Benin, attempted to track her location. For a brief moment, they had some success, but communication was tragically lost between 7:00 and 8:00 PM, leaving the family in a state of anxiety and uncertainty.
A Grim Discovery: The Hospital Visit
The situation took a dire turn when the kidnappers sent a message to Nimatullah’s elder brother, Mukhtar, instructing him to go to Maitama Hospital. There, he would discover the horrifying truth: Nimatullah had been admitted in critical condition. Out of concern for their father’s health, the family made the agonizing decision to withhold this news from Alhaji Suleiman until later that night.
When Mukhtar and other family members arrived at the hospital, they found Nimatullah unconscious, fighting for her life. Meanwhile, Alhaji Suleiman anxiously awaited updates at home, clinging to hope that his daughter would pull through. However, his world shattered when his son Nazir returned home around 2:00 AM, delivering the devastating news that Nimatullah had passed away.
A Community in Mourning: Questions Unanswered
The tragic loss of Nimatullah Suleiman has left her family and the community in deep mourning. Alhaji Suleiman expressed his anguish, stating, “You killed Nimat, by God’s grace you will die too soon. Rest on Nimatullah.” His words reflect the pain of a father who has lost his daughter to a senseless act of violence, and they resonate with the growing frustration many Nigerians feel regarding the state of security in the country.
The family is now left grappling with the aftermath of this tragedy, raising critical questions about the efficiency of rescue efforts and the circumstances surrounding Nimatullah’s death. As the nation continues to confront an alarming rise in kidnappings and violence, her story serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need for effective measures to ensure the safety of citizens.