Abuja: Kidnappers in Nigeria have killed at least 35 people they abducted from a village in northern Zamfara state despite ransoms being paid for their release, a local official told the BBC. In recent years, criminal gangs in the region, known in the country as bandits, have taken to kidnapping people as a means to raise money.
According to BBC, the incident involved 56 people who were taken from Banga village, Kauran Namoda local government area in March. The gunmen demanded a ransom of one million naira ($655; £485) per captive, as reported by media in Nigeria. Residents stated that three pregnant women among the hostages gave birth while in captivity, but the new-borns tragically died due to lack of care. Survivors recounted being forced to witness the brutal killing of fellow hostages before being allowed to leave the forest.
Sixteen of those released on Saturday are currently in hospital receiving treatment, while the bodies of the 38 killed by the bandits are unlikely to be returned, as in these cases corpses are rarely released. The Zamfara government, in a statement, condemned the killings, describing them as “barbaric and cowardly,” and declared that such atrocities added to its resolve to eliminate terrorism from the state.
The government extended condolences to the grieving families, expressing sorrow and offering prayers for strength and healing. It urged the people of Zamfara to remain united and vigilant, encouraging the reporting of suspicious activities to help defeat such evil. The government has vowed to bring the killers to justice.
To address the growing and lucrative kidnapping industry, a law was enacted in 2022 making it a crime to make ransom payments, carrying a jail sentence of at least 15 years. However, no one has been arrested on these charges. The law also stipulates that abduction is punishable by death in cases where victims die. Despite this, families often feel compelled to pay ransoms to save their loved ones, citing the government’s inability to ensure their safety.