CITIZENS COMPASS— A commercial driver, Isa Murtala, has reportedly escaped from his abductors after being abducted along the Sheme road in Katsina State.
He was from Kankara Local Government Area of the State.
Murtala’s escape occurred when his family were under pressure to pay ransom for his release.
However, he reportedly beat his abductors to it and safely returned home.
An X user, @DanKatsina50, on Friday, shared the development stating that the escape was a rare and encouraging outcome amid the region’s kidnapping crisis.
The social media user said the incident was confirmed by local sources.
The Sheme-Kankara highway, in particular, has witnessed a series of brazen abductions, including the kidnapping of 11 passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle in May 2026. Armed bandits frequently block the road, intercept vehicles, and abduct occupants, often demanding hefty ransoms for their release. Murtala’s family had been under significant pressure to pay a substantial ransom, with negotiations reportedly ongoing.
