40 out of the 150 abducted residents of Kuchi community in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State have been set free by their abductors.
PUNCH Online learnt that the freed hostages were mainly women and children, whom the community gave N2 million and purchased 12 Honda motorcycles which they gave to the bandits for their freedom.
The abducted residents regained their freedom on Tuesday morning after the community spent N1.2 million for each of the motorcycles.
Meanwhile, 110 hostages are still languishing in the kidnappers’ den.
PUNCH Online reliably gathered that the bandits have offered to release another batch of 40 hostages if the community could pay another N2 million and provide six motorcycles. This is even as negotiations are still ongoing between the bandits and the community.
Recall that a large number of bandits invaded the Kuchi community three weeks ago, and killed seven people including four security agents. They looted shops, houses and barns of farm produce.
In the end, no fewer than 150 residents were taken hostage in the attack which the community said lasted over three hours with no resistance from security operatives.
After two weeks, the bandits came up with a demand of N150 million before they could free the captives. The community, however, negotiated N100,000 for each of the abducted residents which the bandits turned down, a source who declined identification revealed.
“We have been negotiating with the bandits but finally they agreed to collect six Honda motorcycles and N2 million for the release of two groups totalling 40 in number.
“The 150 people they abducted were divided into six groups, and they said we should bring six Honda motorcycles and N2 million cash for each of the groups. This is after they rejected our initial offer of N100,000 for each person. They have released two groups, remaining four groups”, the source said.
The source lamented that the community has remained without any security presence since the incident, saying, “Since the incident, no single government official or security agent has visited the community for on-the-spot assessment of what happened. The community is left without security at the moment and it has remained deserted,” the source said.
Apart from the chairman of the local government, Aminu Najume, who had earlier confirmed the attack and abduction, there has been no official statement from either the government or the security agencies over the attack.
When contacted, Najume could not confirm the release of the 40 hostages. He said the Council was not involved in the negotiations with the Bandits saying it was strictly between the community and the bandits. He however promised to find out about the release and get back to this reporter as soon as he gets the details.
Also, when contacted on Tuesday, the spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun said that he would find out and get back to this reporter.
“Ok, I will find out and get back to you”, he said.
However, as at the time of filing this report, Abiodun had not gotten back to our correspondent.
