The political family of the former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was thrown into shock Wednesday following reports that a member representing Sumaila/Takai Federal Constituency, Garba Durbunde, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen around Abuja-Jere axis of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
Garba Durbunde, a longstanding political associate of Kwankwaso, was a Commissioner for Rural and Community Development after a stint at the Kano State House of Assembly.
The Niche learned that the unfortunate incident forced Kwankwasiyya, the Kwankwaso-led political movement in Kano, to cancel the much publicized engagement designed to honour Dr Ali Danyaro. It was also learnt that the lawmaker left Abuja for Kano around 5pm on Tuesday but was flagged down at the outskirt of Jere town by unknown gunmen who took him away.
In a reaction to the unfortunate incident, Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, condemned the act and tasked the police to secure his release from captivity. A statement issued by the Governor and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Comrade Mohammed Garba, described the incident as “an act of wickedness perpetrated by evil and cold-hearted elements.”
The press statement noted that “Governor Ganduje was shocked by the news of the sad and unfortunate event, particularly at this holy month of Ramadan, condemned it in the strongest term as an act of wickedness perpetrated by evil and cold-hearted elements.”
Ganduje therefore “called on the police force and other security agencies to intensify effort to rescue the kidnapped lawmaker while also advising members of the public to be vigilant and security conscious at all times.”
The Niche learnt that the kidnappers are yet to get in touch with the family of the lawmaker and there has not been any demand for ransom yet.