In Banga, a village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, of Nigeria’s northern state of Zamfara, the people grieve after bandits killed 38 kidnapped residents, even after receiving over ₦50 million in ransom, according to multiple reports.
Chairman of Kaura-Namoda LGA, Mannir Haidara Kaura, confirmed to newsmen that 56 villagers were initially abducted, with only 18 eventually released.
“The freed victims are currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital,” Kaura stated, adding, “We are working with the state government to visit the families of those who lost their lives.”
A local resident, Ibrahim Banga, told a local news channel that the bandits, who invaded the village months ago, had demanded ₦1 million per hostage. After weeks of desperate fundraising, the community delivered the ransom, but only 18 captives were freed.
“The survivors shared horrifying accounts of how the bandits executed the remaining 35 hostages one by one during their captivity,” Banga recounted.
Banga urged the Nigerian and Zamfara State governments to intensify military operations in the area, stating, “Urgent action is needed to restore peace, bring back displaced residents, and rescue those still in captivity.”
In a separate development in the north-central stare of Niger, troops of the Nigerian Army and hybrid forces, backed by intelligence support from the Department of State Services (DSS), in Iburu village, Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA), killed no less than 45 bandits terrorising the area.
The DSS was reported to have earlier intercepted intelligence that the attackers riding several motorcycles were advancing to attack Iburu and other villages and quickly alerted soldiers on standby.
According to the sources, a gunfight ensued, with the troops killing at least 45 terrorists. The sources quoted the villagers as saying they counted at least 40 dead bodies believed to be those of the bandits. They also counted dozens of the bandits’ motorcycles destroyed during the gunfight.
The sources added that two members of the hybrid forces fighting alongside soldiers lost their lives, while four others were said to be receiving treatment for serious gunshot injuries at a public hospital in the state capital.
Nigerian forces have been confronting a growing security threat from different insurgent groups in the past months, raising fears among Nigerians that the battle against insecurity is facing a serious setback.
However, government sources say the Nigerian military has taken the battle to the insurgents, and successes like this show that the government is making gains as it continues to confront the many channels of insecurity. With the continued attacks on communities, and such killings and the demand for ransom, security watchers are calling on the government to find a more effective approach that would stop such random attacks on defenceless communities.
