Former Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of the Vice-President, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has revealed that his family spent nearly N175 million to secure the release of his nephew and three others who were kidnapped in 2026, despite his access to top government officials.

Baba-Ahmed made the disclosure during an interview on Trust TV, recounting how the victims were abducted and held in a forest for 37 days.

According to him, the incident occurred while he was serving in Aso Villa, and he made extensive efforts to secure their rescue through official channels, but those attempts yielded little success.

“Last year, my nephew was kidnapped alongside three others. They were taken a few kilometres into the bush and spent 37 days there,” he said.

“At the time, I was working in Aso Villa. There was hardly anyone I didn’t speak to. We even provided their coordinates, which were easy to obtain.”

He explained that the kidnappers initially demanded N25 million, three motorcycles, large quantities of drugs and medications, as well as food items including rice, before negotiations progressed.

“The first demand was N25 million, three motorcycles, and a lot of drugs, medications, rice, and other supplies,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed disclosed that by the time the victims were eventually freed, his family had spent close to N175 million meeting the kidnappers’ demands.

“All in all, from the day they were abducted to the day they were released, we spent nearly N175 million,” he added.

His account underscores the worsening insecurity in parts of the country and highlights the heavy financial and emotional toll faced by families seeking the release of abducted loved ones.