Abducted Sokoto Airport Air Traffic Controller, Farmer Beg Nigerian Govt For Rescue After 52 Days In Terrorists’ Captivity | Sahara Reporters
The captive appealed to his family, the agency he works for and the Nigerian government to intervene and take the necessary steps to secure his release.
An Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) working at an airport in Sokoto State and a farmer have appealed to their families, the Nigerian government and other well-meaning Nigerians to secure their release after spending 52 days in captivity with terrorists.
The victims, identified as Mujahid Ado Alkassimu, an air traffic control officer who also works as a teacher, and Sa’idu Abubakar, a farmer in Sokoto, made the appeals in a video posted online by conflict reporter, Bakatsine, on Sunday.
Speaking in Hausa in the video, the two men recounted how they were abducted while travelling from Sokoto to Kano to visit their families.
They said they were kidnapped by armed men along the road between Gusau, Tsafe and Funtua, although their accounts referred to slightly different locations along the route.
In the footage, one of the suspected terrorists is heard interrogating the captives about their identities, places of origin and occupations as they appealed for urgent intervention to secure their freedom.
Alkassimu, who identified himself as an air traffic control officer working at the Sokoto airport, said he had travelled to Kano to visit his family when he was intercepted and abducted by the suspected bandits.
“My name is Mujahid Ado Alkassimu. I am from Kano, but I work in Sokoto. I am a teacher, and I also work at the airport,” he said.
“I travelled from Sokoto to Kano to visit my family, but some bandits abducted me between Tsafe and Funtua. Today marks my 52nd day in captivity.”
The captive appealed to his family, the agency he works for and the Nigerian government to intervene and take the necessary steps to secure his release.
“I am praying to Allah and appealing to my family, especially the agency I work for and the government, to please intervene and do whatever is necessary to help me,” he said.
When the suspected terrorist asked him to identify the agency where he worked, Alkassimu explained that he was employed as an Air Traffic Control Officer at the Sokoto airport.
He reiterated that he was travelling to Kano to visit his family when the armed men abducted him along the road between Gusau and Funtua.
“I am appealing to Allah and asking everyone to be patient. In particular, I am appealing to the agency I work for and my family to please do what is necessary to save my life and secure my release.
“I am calling on my family, the agency I work for, and especially the government to intervene and do whatever it takes to save my life,” he added.
The second captive, Sa’idu Abubakar, also appealed for help, identifying himself as a farmer based in Sokoto State.
Responding to questions from the suspected terrorist about his name and place of origin, Abubakar said he was travelling from Sokoto to Kano when they encountered the armed men.
“My name is Sa’idu Abubakar. I am a farmer in Sokoto,” he said.
“I was travelling from Sokoto to Kano when we encountered some bandits between Gusau and Tsafe, and they abducted us.”
Abubakar appealed to his relatives, friends, well-meaning individuals and the Sokoto State Government to help secure their freedom.
“I am therefore appealing to my friends, well-meaning individuals, my relatives, and the Sokoto State Government, by the grace of Allah, to help us and do everything possible to rescue us from this situation,” he said.
The video showed the two men making desperate appeals for intervention, with Alkassimu specifically calling on the agency where he works and the Federal Government to act to secure his release.
Their appeals come amid persistent security concerns over attacks and abductions along major roads in Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups suspected to be terrorists have targeted travellers and residents.