By Suzan Edeh

BAUCHI—The menace of kidnapping has again raised its ugly head in Bauchi State as the 11-year-old son of a former Commissioner of Finance in Bauchi State (names withheld) was late Sunday evening whisked away by people suspected to be kidnappers in their Federal Lowcost Housing Estate residence in Bauchi metropolis.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command had stepped up security measures to stem the tide within the state.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the criminals entered the house at about 8p.m. on Sunday, immediately after the breaking of Ramadan fast and made straight for the sitting room where the father of the kidnapped victim was, demanding for money.

The assailants were said to have also ransacked the rooms of the wives, making away with valuable items including jewelleries as well as the sum of N150,000 cash. When they could not get more they were said to have decided to go away with the only son until an undisclosed sum was paid to them as ransom.

Police story

Meanwhile, the State Police Command through the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mohammed Barau, confirmed the incident to newsmen, adding, however, that it was a robbery operation rather than outright kidnapping.

Barau added that from the report the Police received, the criminals attacked the house with the intention to rob.

He said: “We gathered that they entered the house and ransacked it, taking away valuable things and demanded for money. But the owner of the house was able to give them the sum of N150,000

“They demanded for more and when they did not get they went away with his son.”