BREAKING: Gunmen Abduct District Head With PhD At Gunpoint In Niger

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Mahmud Ahmed Aliyu, the district head of the Wawa community in Borgu Kingdom, was on Saturday, kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be bandits.

The district head was kidnapped in his palace around 9:30 pm on Saturday by the gunmen, The Punch reports.

It was gathered that the abductors stormed Aliyu's palace in their numbers, armed with guns and cutlasses; and went straight to his apartment where he had already retired.

Aliyu is said to be the 16th Dodo of Wawa and a PhD holder in environmental science from a Malaysian University.

He has reigned for 12 years.

It was also learnt that the gunmen picked him up in the presence of his wives without beating or hurting him.

The spokesman for the State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the incident, adding that the police are already on the bandits' trail to rescue the district head.

“The police tactical team and members of the vigilante of the area have been deployed for manhunt of the hoodlums with a view to rescuing the victim and arresting the culprits,” the PPRO said.