Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Bandits in Katsina State who had abducted 55 persons mostly women while escorting a bride on Friday have released a video threatening to soon marry off the bride if N100 million ransom is not paid.
In the trending video circulated on various social media platforms, a bandit leader in military uniform said the victims would continue to be under his care.
He insists that the number of persons in their net stands at 73 as against the widely circulated rumors of 53.
“I am the person in charge of these people and if N100 million ransom is not paid, I will not free them and if there is anyone that can rescue them, he should please try his luck.
“These people are 63 in number not 53 as is being widely circulated. This bride will be married off to someone if her ransom is not paid. You can equally see their driver close to the bride,” he added.
Meanwhile, the victims mostly women and under-aged children including the driver, called on relevant authorities including their families to come to their aid by supplying the said ransom to the bandits.
They further explained that they had never been tortured by the bandits throughout their stay.
But security operatives are yet to comment about the recent development which comes about a week after 55 persons were kidnapped by a gang while escorting a bride along Damari town in Sabuwa Local Government Area of the state.
Sabuwa, apart from being an agrarian area, also remains one of the security frontline LGAs grappling with the activities of bandits and their collaborators mostly informants to bandits.
“Before the hoodlums attack the victims on a canter vehicle, the victims were initially over 70 mostly friends to the bride in which several others escaped”, he added,” a resident told Channels Television.
According to him, the incident occurred on Thursday at about 8:00 pm, noting that three security volunteers died trying to rescue the victims.
