Kidnappers in Nigeria have killed at least 35 hostages they abducted despite receiving ransom payments, as reported by a local official. The incident occurred in northern Zamfara state, where criminal gangs, referred to as bandits, have increasingly resorted to kidnapping for ransom as a financial strategy. This tragic event took place after 56 individuals were kidnapped from Banga village during March.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of one million naira ($655; £485) per captive, a figure that spurred negotiations that ultimately resulted in payment. Local government chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura described the victims as largely young people, stating they were "slaughtered like rams." Kaura reported that, although the kidnappers released 18 captives on Saturday, including 17 women and one boy, the fate of the other 38 is grim.
"Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people," Haidara lamented, emphasizing the merciless nature of the attackers. Following their release, 16 of the survivors were hospitalized, while the bodies of those murdered are rarely returned to families.
In an effort to combat the rising kidnapping industry, Nigeria enacted laws in 2022 making ransom payments a punishable offense with a jail term of 15 years. However, no one has faced prosecution under these laws, and families often feel pressured to comply with demands in order to protect their loved ones, as public safety remains a pressing concern.
This incident underscores a broader issue within Nigeria, where the frequency and violence of kidnappings continue to escalate, leaving communities in fear and despair.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of one million naira ($655; £485) per captive, a figure that spurred negotiations that ultimately resulted in payment. Local government chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura described the victims as largely young people, stating they were "slaughtered like rams." Kaura reported that, although the kidnappers released 18 captives on Saturday, including 17 women and one boy, the fate of the other 38 is grim.
"Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people," Haidara lamented, emphasizing the merciless nature of the attackers. Following their release, 16 of the survivors were hospitalized, while the bodies of those murdered are rarely returned to families.
In an effort to combat the rising kidnapping industry, Nigeria enacted laws in 2022 making ransom payments a punishable offense with a jail term of 15 years. However, no one has faced prosecution under these laws, and families often feel pressured to comply with demands in order to protect their loved ones, as public safety remains a pressing concern.
This incident underscores a broader issue within Nigeria, where the frequency and violence of kidnappings continue to escalate, leaving communities in fear and despair.
