Residents of Banga village in Zamfara State’s Kaura Namoda Local Government Area are in grief after bandits brutally killed 38 abducted residents, even after paying more than ₦50 million in ransom.
56 villagers were first taken hostage during the operation, according to Mannir Haidara Kaura, the Chairman of Kaura-Namoda LGA, who confirmed the incident on Monday.
After weeks in captivity, only 18 victims were released, Kaura told Channels Television.
According to the information I received as the local government chairman, 56 people were kidnapped by the bandits, and just 18 of them made it back, he stated.
The remaining eighteen were taken to the hospital and are currently taking medication. Additionally, we are getting ready to accompany the state administration to see the families of the deceased.
He stated that plans are in place to comfort grieving relatives and that the released folks are presently receiving treatment.
Ibrahim Banga, a villager, had previously informed Channels Television that the bandits had broken into the area months prior and taken dozens of people hostage.
Banga stated, “They demanded ₦1 million per hostage.”
“The community raised and delivered over ₦50 million to secure their release after a few weeks.”
Surprisingly, only eighteen were freed by the kidnappers; the others were apparently killed one by one while in captivity.
The released captives “recounted how the bandits had slaughtered the remaining 35 abductees upon their return,” he continued.
In order to restore peace, facilitate the return of displaced people, and free any remaining hostages, the locals are now urging the federal government and the state of Zamfara to launch military operations in the region.
In a separate operation, Nigerian Army personnel killed at least 45 bandits in Iburu village, Shiroro LGA, Niger State, with the help of hybrid forces and information from the Department of State Services (DSS).
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Security sources say the operation happened Friday night in response to intelligence inputs that terrorists on motorcycles were moving forward to assault multiple areas.
According to one report, “a fierce gunfight broke out after the DSS alerted soldiers on standby.”
According to villagers, the conflict destroyed dozens of motorcycles and more than 40 bandit bodies.
But the military also lost soldiers. Four members of the hybrid force are being treated at a public hospital for severe bullet wounds, while two members were murdered.
As of this writing, the military authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the Shiroro operation.
