A traditional ruler, who was abducted last week in his Karfi village in the Takai Local Government Area of Kano State, Abdullahi Ilu, has gained freedom from captivity.

The abductors, however, hold an associate professor of Kano State University of Science and Technology (KSTU), Huzaifa Karfi, who reportedly delivered the ransom to the kidnappers.

The Star had earlier reported that Abdullahi Ilu was kidnapped, while six people in his jurisdiction were gun down by the gun-weilding kidnappers on their way out of the village.

A resident of the area, Musa Saadu, confirmed the release of the village head on Thursday.

“Alhamdlillah, Sarkin Karfi has been released. May Allah expiate his shortcomings as a result. May He protect us from the afflictions of nowadays,” Saadu said.

A source close the the traditional ruler, however, told The Star that ransom was paid to the kidnappers who held the conveyor of the money before the release of the monarch.

“Innalillahi wa Inna Ilaihin Raji’un Sarki was released but they held Dr Huzaifa Karfi.

“Huzaifa Karfi is an associate professor in the faculty of Agricultural science, Kano University of Science and Technology. He was captured by the bandits that abducted Sarkin Karfi,” Saadu added.

According to Saadu the kidnappers kept the village head at Burra forest in Bauchi State and directed payment of ransom to Zaria, Kaduna State.

He said: “Although they hid Sarki at Burra forest in Ningi LGA, Bauchi State, they directed that, the ransom should be paid at Zaria; Dr Huzaifa was assigned to take the money to the bandits.”

He further revealed that local hunters and vigilantes have arrested one suspected kidnapper in the forest over the abduction and killing at Karfi village.

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“They successfully collected the ransom and held Huzaifa in connection to their man that was captured by vigilante group that wade in to the bush to rescue Sarkin Karfi.

“They demanded the release of their man as condition to release Dr Huzaifa. This issue is very complicated and needs our prayers and supplications, let’s include Dr Karfi in our prayers,” Saadu stated.

A brother to the traditional ruler, Yusuf Ismail, also confirmed to The Star that the village head has been released.

Ismail added that Sarkin Karfi is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the command could not confirm the release of the traditional ruler.

The Star