Bandits have killed 38 kidnapped victims in Banga village in the 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 Local Government Area, Mannir Haidara Kaura, said 56 persons were reportedly abducted from the village, and 18 were later released.
Kaura further stated that the freed 18 victims have been admitted to the 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 the hospital, they are on medication. We are also preparing to go with the state government to see the families of those who lost their lives.”
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 of efforts, the community managed to raise and deliver the money.
Banga, however, confirmed that only 18 of the captives were eventually released.
“Upon their return, the freed victims recounted how the bandits had slaughtered the remaining 35 abductees, killing them one after the other during their captivity,” he 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.