By Atoyebi Nike
Tragedy struck Banga village in Kaura Namoda LGA of Zamfara State, where armed bandits killed 38 kidnapped residents despite receiving N50 million as ransom.
The Chairman of Kaura-Namoda Local Government, Mannir Haidara Kaura, confirmed the killings to Channels Television on Monday. According to him, a total of 56 villagers were abducted, and only 18 have returned alive.
“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 hospital, they are on medication,” Kaura said. He added that plans were underway for a condolence visit to the families of the deceased alongside the state government.
One of the freed victims revealed that the remaining captives were killed one after the other during their time in captivity. Their ordeal, according to a local resident, Ibrahim Banga, began months ago when the bandits invaded the village and abducted dozens of people.
He said the kidnappers demanded N1 million per person and the community eventually raised N50 million, which was delivered as ransom. Despite the payment, only 18 hostages were released.
“Those who returned told us that the bandits killed the others—one after the other,” Ibrahim recounted, appealing to both the federal and state governments to intensify military operations in the area to restore peace, assist displaced families, and rescue those still in captivity.
Zamfara State has been one of the regions most affected by rural banditry and mass abductions in recent years. Residents and local officials continue to call for stronger security intervention and long-term solutions to persistent violence.
