Grief, Anger As Family Of Murdered Kaduna Educationist Seeks Justice After Ransom Tragedy

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

More than six months after the abduction and killing of Hon. Samuel Abi Dangiwa, his family, says the pain remains as raw as ever, deepened by unanswered questions, silence from authorities, and the absence of his remains for a proper burial.

Dangiwa, a respected educationist and retired director, was taken from his residence in Kufana, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on the night of September 14, 2025.

Armed kidnappers reportedly stormed the home around 10 p.m., just as he was preparing to retire for the night after visiting a friend. He was abducted alongside his cousin, Mr. Mathew Danladi, and others.

In a desperate bid to secure their release, the family mobilised all available resources. They raised ₦9.5 million and handed over three motorcycles valued at ₦6 million to the abductors.

However, despite meeting these demands, both men were killed.

Adding to the family’s anguish is the fact that their bodies have not been returned. According to the family, they only learned of Dangiwa’s death through one of the victims who was later freed.

The survivor revealed that he had been killed in captivity and buried in an unmarked grave weeks earlier.

Meanwhile, speaking in an emotional interview with African Culture TV, Dangiwa’s daughter, Eunice Samuel Dangiwa, recounted the toll the tragedy had taken on the family.

She described how they sold inherited farmland to meet the ransom demands, holding on to hope that their sacrifices would bring him home alive.

“We did everything they asked. We gave them money, we gave them motorcycles. But they still killed him,” she said sadly.

“Now we don’t even have his body to bury. It’s hard to understand how we are supposed to move forward,” she added.

Beyond their grief, the family says they feel abandoned. Despite Dangiwa’s years of service and contributions to education and politics in Kajuru, they claim no official condolence has come from the state government, political figures, or traditional leaders.

In a press statement posted on her timeline, Eunice highlighted her late father’s achievement.

She noted that Dangiwa played a significant role in advancing education in Kajuru. As Education Secretary in Kajuru LGA, he facilitated the employment of over 800 teachers and oversaw the construction of more than 100 schools, expanding access to learning across the community.

He was also politically active, having aspired to lead the local government and served as a campaign director for a federal lawmaker.

He was also said to have remained a loyal supporter of the current administration and the ruling party.

Eunice called for urgent action, demanding a thorough and transparent investigation into the abduction and killing, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, and support for the family.

She also urged authorities to formally recognise Dangiwa’s contributions and address the growing insecurity in Kajuru and surrounding communities.

She said: “A man who dedicated his life to public service deserves justice, dignity, and recognition, even in death.”

The case highlights the continuing threat of kidnapping in parts of Kaduna State, where families are often forced to make impossible choices under extreme pressure, only to be left with devastating outcomes.

For Dangiwa’s family, the wait continues, not only for justice but for closure and the chan

ce to finally lay their patriarch to rest.