Despite N50m ransom, bandits kill 35 kidnapped victims in Zamfara
A deep wave of grief has swept through Banga village in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, following a tragic incident where bandits reportedly slaughtered 35 kidnapped victims despite receiving over ₦50 million in ransom.
The victims were among 53 villagers abducted several months ago when armed men invaded the rural community.
A resident, Lawali Muhammad Banga, while confirming this, stated that the assailants had initially demanded ₦1 million per hostage,
According to him, after weeks of desperate efforts, the village managed to raise and deliver the ransom, hoping to secure the safe return of their loved ones.
However, only 18 captives were released, and those who returned recounted horrifying details. They described how the remaining 35 abductees were executed one by one in cold blood while in captivity.
Lawali expressed the community’s longing for a return to peace, stating, “All we want now is to live in peace, to feel like free citizens and not slaves under the rule of heartless terrorists who neither fear God nor believe they can ever be crushed.”
He further revealed that Banga village has effectively fallen under the control of the armed group, with surrounding communities abandoned as residents flee from recurring attacks that have included killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence against those who resist the bandits’ dominance.
In a heartfelt plea, Lawali called upon the Federal and Zamfara state government to urgently come to their aid.
Source: DAILY POST
