Tragic Story of an Abuja Lawyer’s Father

Lawyer Bala Dakum from Abuja shared the heartbreaking tale of his 85-year-old father, Deh Idi Dakum, who was tragically kidnapped and murdered by criminals shortly after a ransom was paid for his release.



“My father, Deh Idi Dakum, held the title of Galadima Nyam in Tangur, within the Bokkos local government area of Plateau state. He was around 85 years old,” he relayed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, November 28.

“He was abducted on November 18 at approximately 7:00 p.m. in our home village, Matelem. The kidnappers took his and my mother’s phones. Unbeknownst to us, they had already killed him just about a kilometer from our home that same evening. My brother, Moses, kept trying to call Dad’s phone,” said the lawyer.

On November 19, the family finally made contact with the kidnappers. A ransom was arranged to be paid the next day.

Mr. Dakum clarified that before the ransom was settled, his brother, who was chosen to negotiate, asked to speak to their father. The kidnappers claimed they had left him with others in their gang.

“After paying the ransom, they promised my brother that they would inform their associates to release our father near the village. My brother was hopeful that Dad would return that night, but he never did,” he said.

“On November 21, my brother contacted the kidnappers who assured him of my father’s release, but still, no one returned. The following day, my brother tried reaching them again but failed to get through.”

“On November 23, he attempted once more, but this time, one of the kidnappers was aggressive, questioning whether he thought the ransom was sufficient,” Mr. Dakum explained.

He continued, “They said the ransom was too little and wanted more money, but we chose not to comply as suspicions grew about their honesty. Just hours later, around 9:00 a.m., we found my dad’s body on a farm merely a kilometer from where he was taken.”

“The condition of his remains indicated he had been deceased for several days. We buried him immediately on November 23 in Matelem village, attended by the district head, Deh Sati Nder, the Bokkos LGA chairman, Hon Amalau, and members of the STF stationed nearby.”