According to a local official who spoke to the BBC, Nigerian
kidnappers have killed at least 35 persons they kidnapped from a community in
northern Zamfara state, even after ransom was paid to free them.
In order to raise money, criminal gangs in the area—known as
bandits in the country—have started kidnapping people in recent years.
56 persons were arrested in this event in March from Banga
village in the Kauran Namoda local government region. According to Nigerian
media, the gunmen then wanted a ransom of one million naira ($655; £485) for
each victim.
The majority of those killed, according to local government
chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura, were young people who "were slaughtered
like rams".
Following some back and forth, the bandits were granted the
ransom money they had wanted. On Saturday, they released 18 individuals,
including one young boy and 17 women, Haidara continued.
"The gunmen are the only ones who know why they killed
them." They are callous and illogical individuals. They fail to remember
that we will all meet in front of Allah and that they are murdering their own
brothers.
Three pregnant hostage women gave birth while in captivity,
according to the residents, but all of the newborns perished from neglect.
Before being let to flee the jungle, survivors described
having to watch as other hostages were brutally killed.
The bodies of the 38 people killed by the bandits are
unlikely to be returned because corpses are rarely released in these
situations, while 16 of those released on Saturday are in the hospital for
treatment.
The Zamfara administration said in a statement that the
killings were "barbaric and cowardly" and that they strengthened its
determination to eradicate terrorism from the country.
We offer our condolences and offer prayers for courage and
recovery to the bereaved family. Continue to be vigilant and united, good
people of Zamfara. By reporting suspicious activity, we can battle evil
together.
The administration has promised to bring the murderers to
justice.
A law that made paying ransom a crime was passed in 2022 in
an effort to stop the lucrative and rapidly growing kidnapping industry. No one
has ever been arrested on the accusations, despite the fact that it carries a
minimum 15-year jail sentence.
In circumstances where victims pass away, it also rendered
kidnapping punishable by death.
However, because the government cannot guarantee their protection, families frequently feel compelled to pay to safeguard their loved ones.
SOURCE: https://www.adomonline.com/
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