Residents of Banga village in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State are reeling from shock and grief after bandits killed 38 kidnapped villagers, despite collecting over ₦50 million in ransom from the community.
Chairman of Kaura-Namoda LGA, Mannir Haidara Kaura, confirmed the killings, stating that 56 villagers were abducted in the initial attack. Of those, only 18 have been released and are currently receiving medical treatment.
“From the information I got as the Chairman of the local government, 56 were abducted by the bandits and only 18 returned,” Kaura said. “We took the remaining 18 people to the hospital; they are on medication. We are also preparing, along with the state government, to visit the families of those who lost their lives.”
A resident of the village, Ibrahim Banga, revealed that the kidnappers had demanded ₦1 million per hostage and, after several weeks, the villagers managed to raise the ransom money. Despite the payment, only 18 captives were freed.
“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,” Banga said.
He appealed to both the federal and state governments to intensify military operations in the area to restore peace, enable the return of displaced persons, and rescue those still in captivity.
Military Gains in Niger State
Meanwhile, in Niger State, Nigerian Army troops backed by hybrid forces and intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly neutralised at least 45 terrorists on Friday during a fierce battle in Iburu village, Shiroro Local Government Area.
Security sources said the DSS intercepted intelligence suggesting that terrorists riding motorcycles were planning an attack on local villages. The military responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a gunfight that left dozens dead and several motorcycles destroyed.
According to eyewitnesses, villagers counted over 40 dead terrorists. However, two members of the hybrid forces were also killed, while four others are receiving treatment for serious injuries at a hospital in Minna.
The contrasting outcomes in Zamfara and Niger underscore the ongoing security challenges across Nigeria’s northwestern and north-central regions, where banditry and terrorism continue to claim lives and disrupt communities.
