An 85-year-old man, Deh Idi Dakum, has been found dead after being abducted by criminals in Matelem, a village in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Bala Dakum, one of the victim’s sons, spoke to our correspondent on Thursday, sharing the heartbreaking details of his father’s kidnapping and subsequent death. Deh Idi Dakum, who held the traditional title of Galadima Nyam in the Tagur District of Bokkos, was taken by the abductors on November 18, 2024, around 7 pm.
According to Bala, the kidnappers initially took the phones of both Deh Idi and his wife. The family quickly realized something was wrong when they couldn’t reach them. After persistent attempts, Bala’s brother, Moses, established contact with the kidnappers on November 19, 2024. The criminals demanded a N2 million ransom, but the family was only able to raise N700,000, which was paid on November 20, 2024.
Moses, tasked with negotiating with the abductors, asked to speak with their father, but the kidnappers claimed they had left him with their men near Daffo, another area within Bokkos. Despite paying the ransom, they reassured Moses that his father would be returned safely.
However, the family’s hope turned to despair when Deh Idi failed to return by the morning of November 21. When Moses contacted the kidnappers again, they promised to release him soon. But on November 23, when Moses attempted to reach the abductors once more, the conversation turned hostile. The kidnappers complained about the inadequate ransom and demanded more money.
By then, the family began to doubt the kidnappers’ intentions. Hours later, around 9 am, the body of Deh Idi Dakum was found on a farm just a kilometre from where he had been abducted. The state of his body indicated that he had been dead for several days.
This tragic incident highlights the ongoing threat posed by kidnappers in Plateau State and raises questions about the effectiveness of ransom negotiations and the safety of rural communities.
