Former Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhassan Bawa Niworo, has spent more than 73 days in captivity following his abduction along the New Bussa–Mokwa road, leaving his family and the wider public increasingly anxious and frustrated over the government’s silence and lack of visible action.

Niworo, aged 70, was kidnapped on his way to Minna, and relatives say he has remained in the hands of armed men who have continued to escalate their demands. The family initially managed to raise ₦30 million through loans, contributions, and the sale of valuables in response to the kidnappers’ earlier demands, but the abductors have since increased the ransom to ₦120 million, an amount the family says is impossible for them to meet. According to relatives, Niworo’s health has deteriorated sharply during his prolonged captivity. The former SUBEB chairman reportedly requires daily medication for hypertension and other age-related medical conditions, raising fears that his life may now be in immediate danger. Family members say he has often sounded weak and distressed in brief conversations allowed by the kidnappers. The abduction has sparked significant concern within Niger State and beyond, with many Nigerians asking a pressing question: What steps is the government taking to secure his release. Despite multiple appeals, the family says no clear communication has come from the state government or federal security agencies. While security operatives have often repeated assurances that “operations are ongoing,” there has been no confirmed breakthrough, no official update, and no visible rescue effort specific to Niworo’s case. The kidnapping is one of several incidents along the increasingly dangerous Mokwa–New Bussa corridor, a route that has witnessed repeated attacks on travellers in recent months. Security analysts say bandit groups operating in forested areas around the region have continued to exploit gaps in surveillance and response times. Family members, now financially exhausted and emotionally drained, are pleading for urgent intervention from Governor Mohammed Bago, the Niger State Police Command, and federal authorities. They warn that without swift action, the situation could take a tragic turn. Seventy-three days in captivity for a 70-year-old man is unbearable. We cannot raise ₦120 million. We need help. We need the government to act,” a relative lamented. Public frustration is also rising, with civic groups and community leaders questioning the effectiveness of ongoing security operations and calling for a more proactive, intelligence-driven response to curb kidnappings across Niger State. As of today, Alhassan Niworo remains in captivity, and his family — along with concerned Nigerians — await a decisive intervention that could bring him home alive.