Bandits have killed 38 residents abducted in Banga village, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, after collecting N50 million as ransom.
Confirming the incident to Channels Television, the Chairman of Kaura-Namoda LGA, Mannir Haidara Kaura, said 56 persons were initially abducted from the village, and 18 were later released.
Kaura further disclosed that the freed 18 victims have been admitted to hospital for medical treatment.
“From the information I got as the chairman of the local government, 56 were abducted by the bandits and only 18 returned.
“We took the remaining 18 people to hospital, they are on medication. We are also preparing to go with the state government to go and see the families of those that lost their lives,” the LG chairman said.
A resident of the village, Ibrahim Banga, earlier informed Channels Television that the bandits invaded the community months ago and abducted 53 people.
According to him, the kidnappers demanded N1 million per hostage, and after several weeks, the community managed to raise and deliver the money.
However, only 18 of the captives were eventually released.
“Upon their return, the freed victims recounted how the bandits slaughtered the remaining 35 abductees, killing them one after the other during their captivity,” the resident said.
He appealed to both the federal and Zamfara State governments to urgently extend military operations to the area, which he said would help restore peace, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and rescue those still held by the criminals.
