Kidnappers Kill 35 Hostages In Nigeria Despite Receiving Ransoms
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
ABUJA (Worthy News) – Kidnappers in Nigeria have killed at least 35 people they abducted from a village in the country’s northwestern Zamfara state despite ransoms being paid for their release, officials said Tuesday.
It was the latest in a series of attacks in the mainly Islamic area by criminal gangs, known in the country as “bandits”, and hardline Islamic groups.
The bandits have taken to kidnapping people as a means to raise money, observers said.
Often Christians have been targeted, though in this case it is believed the hostages were mainly Muslim, said Paul Jongas, a well-informed Christian farmer and evangelist, in a statement to Worthy News.
Those who died were among 56 people taken from Banga village in the Kauran Namoda local government area in March, sources said.
The gunmen then reportedly demanded a ransom of one million naira ($655) per captive.
Local government chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura said most of those killed were young people who “were slaughtered like rams”.
RANSOM MONEY
“What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for. They then released 18 people, including 17 women and one young boy, on Saturday,” Haidara added.
“Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah.”
Residents said three pregnant women who were among the hostages gave birth while in captivity, but all the newborns died due to a lack of care.
Survivors recalled being forced to “witness the brutal killing” of fellow hostages before being allowed to leave the forest.
Officials said sixteen of those released on Saturday are in the hospital receiving treatment.
The bodies of the 38 killed by the bandits are unlikely to be returned, as in these cases, corpses are rarely released, according to observers familiar with Nigeria’s turmoil.
In a statement, the Zamfara government condemned the murders as “barbaric and cowardly” and stressed that such atrocities added to its resolve to wipe out terrorism from the state.
GRIEVING FAMILIES
“To the grieving families, we share your sorrow and pray for strength and healing. To the good people of Zamfara, remain united and vigilant. Report suspicious activities, and together, we will defeat evil,” the government stressed.
The government also said the killers would be brought to justice. In an attempt to curb the spiralling and lucrative kidnapping industry, a law was enacted in 2022 making it a crime to make ransom payments.
It carries a jail sentence of at least 15 years; however, observers said no one has ever been arrested on those charges. The legislation
It also made abduction punishable by death in cases where the victims die.
But families and churches have admitted to being forced to pay to save their loved ones, citing the government’s inability to ensure their safety.
Thousands of Christians are among those killed annually in Nigeria, which has been described as one of the most violent nations for Christian believers.
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