FACT CHECK: Bandits Did Not Kidnap Zamfara Gov’s ‘Brother’

A viral video features two middle-aged individuals in captivity —one wearing a dark brown kaftan and the other a light green kaftan. In the video, the individuals follow instructions from bandits as they respond to questions.

In the first video, which lasts 26 seconds, the bandits ask the men in the Hausa language, the following questions:

Bandits: Where were you kidnapped from?

Kidnapped victims: Kucheri.

Bandits: Where did you go?

Kidnapped victims: We went to Funtua.

Bandits: Why did you go to Funtua?

Kidnapped victims: We went to our bread factory.

The second video, which is 30-second-long, shows the bandits questioning the man in the dark brown kaftan about his relationship with the Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal.

Bandits: What is your relationship with Dauda?

Victim: I am his brother.

The bandits further asked: Do you share the same father and mother?

The kidnapped victim answers affirmatively.

The bandits then shouted, “Say it loud.” He repeated twice that he is a sibling of Governor Dauda Lawal.

The bandits then said, ‘If we do not get the ransom we asked for, we will kill you. Ask them to call Dauda to arrange for the money.’

FINDINGS:
An investigation by LEADERSHIP has revealed that the victim’s claim was false; none of the kidnapped victims is related to the Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal.

Further inquiry showed that the governor’s only sibling is a woman, not a man.

The kidnapped victim featured in the video appeared distressed, likely due to pressure from the bandits, prodding him to read their script.

When contacted to confirm the claim, Zamfara State Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, stated that it’s a new tactic employed by bandits to gain attention.

He said, “Upon watching that video critically, one can see how distressed the kidnapped victims were. I believe this is a new format adopted by the bandits. However, none of the kidnapped victims is related to the governor.”

“The government is currently taking steps to ensure the victims’ safe rescue and to reunite them with their families,” Idris added.