My Abductors Were Crying When I Left Them - Niger Commissioner

On Monday, August 9, gunmen broke into the residence of the Commissioner at Babban-Tunga, a community off Abuja/Kaduna highway. They were said to have attacked his wife and baby before whisking him away.

Family sources who spoke to Daily Trust, said the family sold some valuables to raise the ransom demanded by the abductors. The source also said that he is unsure of how much was paid to secure the Commissioner's release, adding that the government did not contribute a dime to his release.

Addressing some persons after regaining freedom, Idris was heard saying that his abductors told him they got information that the governor was releasing money to him every week. He also said he has forgiven those who abducted him.

"Allah has promised to test us... Those guys who kidnapped me, I have forgiven them. I don't want anybody to curse them or say anything bad against them.

"They were crying when I left them. They said they regret kidnapping me. That they were contracted to kidnap me. They (kidnappers) were from Zamfara and the person who contracted them told them that the Governor gives me over 200 million naira monthly.

"They said the person told them that if I gave them less than N200 million, they shouldn't release me."