Niger radiographer abduction sparks ransom outcry as police hunt kidnappers after Basherah Ojedeyi and passengers were seized on Ibbi-Bussa highway

Niger radiographer abduction has triggered outrage after Basherah Ojedeyi, a newly-inducted health professional, was seized alongside passengers by armed men along the Ibbi-Bussa Road in Niger State.

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Ojedeyi, a recent graduate of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, was travelling from Sokoto to Osun State to begin her internship when her vehicle developed a fault at Mokwa.

Hours later, she became unreachable, and her family later disclosed that kidnappers demanded a ransom of N200 million for her release.

Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Command said the abduction occurred on Monday, September 29, after gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in the area.

Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun revealed that the assailants exchanged fire with officers, injuring one policeman before fleeing.

“Unfortunately, the armed men later blocked the road ahead of the police checkpoint and abducted some passengers from about three vehicles,” Abiodun stated, adding that a tactical manhunt involving security agencies and local vigilantes is underway.

The family of Ojedeyi, however, reported that since the initial ransom demand, there has been no further contact from the kidnappers.

The Niger radiographer abduction has drawn condemnation from the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria, which described the attack as a direct assault on the nation’s healthcare professionals.

They called on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to prioritise the safe release of the victims.

Observers note that the incident adds to a growing pattern of insecurity targeting health workers. Between 2019 and 2023, at least 109 healthcare professionals were abducted in Nigeria, with many subjected to ransom negotiations and prolonged captivity.

Large-scale kidnappings of students and professionals travelling on highways have also become a recurring tragedy. In one notable case, 20 medical students abducted en route to a convention were freed following a tactical operation.

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For Ojedeyi’s family, the uncertainty remains unbearable as security forces intensify efforts to rescue her and other abducted passengers.