Northern Man Allegedly Poses As Bandit, Demands Motorcycles From Kidnap Victims’ Families -

A man identified as Alhaji Ibrahim has allegedly been using a false kidnapping scheme to extort motorcycles from families of people abducted by bandits in northern Nigeria.

Ibrahim was reportedly exposed during an interrogation captured in a video shared online by conflict reporter Bakatsine.

During the questioning, Ibrahim allegedly admitted contacting relatives of kidnapped victims and falsely telling them that their loved ones were being held by his group.

He reportedly told one man identified as Isiya that his relative was in their custody and would be released if he provided a motorcycle worth about N2.5 million.

Ibrahim also admitted contacting another man, Alhaji Sani, and making a similar demand for a motorcycle.

The suspect further disclosed that he contacted the mother of another alleged victim, telling her that her son was with them and asking her to persuade him to provide money for his release.

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According to his account, he introduced himself to the purported victim and claimed that the victim’s relative was being held in the bush. He allegedly demanded a motorcycle before the relative would be released.

When questioned about who was supposedly holding the victim, Ibrahim reportedly said the person was in the hands of “the Fulani,” despite earlier telling the victim that the relative was in his own custody.

The interrogation also suggested that Ibrahim had allegedly used the same method against other families.

Bakatsine said Ibrahim would obtain phone numbers of relatives of people abducted by bandits, contact them using a disguised voice and falsely claim that their relatives were in his custody before demanding ransom or valuables.

He also alleged that the man had previously been arrested over a similar offence.