Istifanus Gurama, a staff of Dangote Group, who was kidnapped some weeks ago, has been found murdered in a gutter. He was believed to have been kidnapped three weeks ago but news of his murder got to his family members Monday, December 5, 2016.
Gurama was reportedly charge of negotiations and handing ransom payments to kidnappers fell out of luck, was kidnapped, and murdered by the bandits, Punch reports.
Sources with direct knowledge of the situation informed the press that senior strategist, Gurama was in charge of negotiations and handing ransom payment to kidnappers when expatriates working with Dangote Industries were kidnapped.
There are indications that his body was found following a tip-off by the kidnappers.
The Nigeria Police Force has announced that it has arrested the kidnappers and killers of Gurama and the gang has confessed to the murder.
In a statement, e-mailed to The Trent, signed by Don Awunah, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, the police says that it has arrested three suspects who have confessed to receiving a N5.6 million ransom payment for five expatriate staff of Dangote.
“The coordinated clampdown on crime and criminality throughout the country has continued to yield positive results,” Awunah said.
“The IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) recorded another breakthrough with the arrest of three of the kidnappers that murdered one and kidnapped five expatriate members of staff of Dangote group.
“The IRT, armed with credible intelligence, between November 27, 2016 and December 3, 2016 arrested three of the kidnappers: Abubakar Gide 24, Abdullahi Salihu 22, and Babuga Adamu 25 in Ijebu Igbo – Ogun State, Epe Forest – Lagos State and Ajase Ipo Forest – Kwara State respectively.
“The suspects confessed to kidnapping and releasing all five initial victims after receiving N5.6 million ransom. They also confessed to kidnapping and murdering the ransom transporter, Mr. Istifanus Gurama, also of Dangote group.
“However, it is imperative relations of kidnap victim(s) should exercise considerable restraint in negotiating and paying ransom. It is absolutely important the negotiators of ransom should have confidence in the police,” the police warned.
The day Gurama was kidnapped, he was said to have gone, as usual, to negotiate and pay ransom money for the release of one of the expatriates in captivity. However, on getting there, the kidnappers told him that he was actually their target and abducted him.
A close friend also revealed Gurama showed him some of the videos of his negotiations with kidnappers.
Meanwhile, the suspects have since led the police to their hideout in Ijebu Igbo Ogun Forest where the following arms and ammunition they used in the operation were recovered: 3 AK47 rifles, 6 AK47 magazines and 160 rounds of ammunition, the police revealed.
“The suspects further led IRT operatives to Apoje River where the body of Mr. Gurama was recovered. Efforts are in progress to arrest other gang members who are currently at large in other states,” Awunah said.
Meanwhile Gurama‘s wife of 20 years, Amina, appeared inconsolable.
She lamented, “Gurama was a lovely person, if he is not in the house one day, the children will be asking after him endlessly.
“Now, I do not know what to tell the children because he is always chatting with them on social media and phone and for three weeks since his disappearance, they have been wondering where he was because all his activities on social media ceased and the children have observed that it is quite unlike him.”
