Kidnappings: Continuously Ransom Demands Of Over N100m, After Abductions - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Publisher (J.T)
July 15, 2021
Sadly, pupils and students have been killed by bandits because their parents or guardians’ delay in paying and cannot afford the usual huge ransom.
Down the memory lane, kidnapping for ransom on a ‘commercial scale’ became rampant in 2011, spreading across States of the country. Usually, the prime targets of kidnapping for ransom are those considered wealthy to pay ransom.
But now, the story has changed, no one is safe. Either money or its material equivalent is usually requested or to be paid as ransom.
Recently, Zamfara Governor, Bello Matawalle, said bandits killed 2,619 people and abducted 1,190 others in eight years in the state. The Governor also disclosed the bandits collected N970 million ransom from victims’ families between 2011 and 2019.
Here is a schedule of various reported ransoms demanded by bandits since November 2020 chronicled by The Nation:
*In November 2020, bandits who abducted eight Assistant Superintendents of Police demanded N100m ransom for their release.
*In February 2021, bandits who kidnapped 21 passengers in a bus belonging to the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA) demanded N500 million to secure the release of the abducted passengers.
*In March 2021, bandits who abducted some Redeemed Church members, demanded N50 million ransom in Kaduna.
*Also, In March 2021, bandits demanded N200m to free 19 people abducted from Kutunku village in Wushishi LGA of Niger state.
*In May 2021, suspected armed bandits demanded N350 million as ransom before releasing 65 Adara natives kidnapped by armed bandits from Libera Gida, Kallah ward in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State.
*In May 2021, abductors of the students of Greenfield University, Kaduna State demanded N100 million as ransom and 10 motorcycles to free 17 students in their custody.
*In May 2021, the abductors of Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, Pius Kolawole, also demanded a ransom of N100 million.
*In May 2021, bandits, who attacked Kwakwashi community in Niger State, killed one and abducted 13 persons. They also demanded N100m for their release.
*In May 2021, bandits, who invaded Batati community in Lavun local government area of Niger state, demanded N50 million for the five persons abducted during the attack on the community.
*In June 2021, for the two kidnapped Kaduna nurses, the bandits requested N10 million for first payment and N30 million ransom as second payment.
*In June 2021, bandits who abducted pupils of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Tegina town demanded ransom of N110m and was later increased to N200m.
*In June 2021, suspected bandits who kidnapped the principal of Government Secondary School Ruma, Katsina State, Malam Sani Sa’idu Usha, and in separate operations abducted 30 other residents of Batsari town requested for N150 million ransom to release all the abductees.
*In June 2021, bandits abducted the Vice Chairman of Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna state, James Bijimi, demanding N100m.
*In June 2021, bandits reportedly collected N16m for 11 victims, held back 17 abductees, and also demanded N17m before they could regain freedom.
*In June 2021, bandits who abducted the District Head of Zungeru and two of his wives in Wushishi local government of Niger State demanded for a ransom of N10m.
*In July 2021, in Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna, they abducted nine people in the community and demanded N20 million as ransom.
*In July 2021, bandits reportedly demanded N220million as ransom for 11 persons abducted from Anguwan Gimbiya, a suburb of Kaduna state.
*In July 2021, abductors of 11 persons and 2 minors in Udawa Chikun local government area of Kaduna State demanded N25 million as ransom from the family of the kidnapped persons.
*In July 2021, bandits kidnapped about seven women and four children along the dreaded Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State. They also demanded N25 million ransom from the relations of the abductees.
*In July 2021, abductors of Emir of Kajuru Alhassan Adamu along with 13 of his family members demanded N200million as ransom.