Terrorists in Zamfara State have collected the N3m levy they imposed on the people of Wanzamai village. They had earlier kidnapped 85 people, mostly women and children. They however refused to release the victims after collecting the money.
An indigene of the area, Abubakar Na,allah, told Saturday PUNCH that the N3m ransom demanded by the bandits was paid last Wednesday by the community. He noted that instead of the bandits to release the victims, they told the community that the N3m was for the purchase of the two motorcycles damaged by military personnel.
He said, “We have taken the N3m to the bandits as earlier demanded but to our almost dismay, they collected the money and told us that it is for their two motorcycles that were damaged by the military personnel. We are now in a pathetic situation as we don’t know what to do next.”
Meanwhile, the state police command said on Friday that it had rescued nine victims abducted by bandits in Kucheri village in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state. It noted that the victims were debriefed before they were reunited with their families.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Mohammed Shehu, said the victims were rescued on Wednesday by tactical operatives.
Shehu said, “On April 13, 2023, Police Tactical Operatives successfully rescued nine hostages comprising seven females and two males who were abducted on April 11, 2023 at Kucheri village in Tsafe Local Government Area.
“The rescue of the victims was sequel to credible information obtained from a good Samaritan which the police used and successfully rescued the victims hale and hearty. The victims were debriefed by the police detectives and thereafter reunited with their families and relations.”
Shehu said the Commissioner of Police, Kolo Yusuf, congratulated the victims for regaining their freedom as he reassured the public of sustained onslaught against the bandits and other criminal elements.
