Bandits operating in Zamfara State have rejected a N3m ransom offered for the release of 26 abducted villagers from Gidan-Goga, Maradun Local Government Area.
Abubakar Shehu, a resident of the village whose three daughters are among the abductees, revealed this during a phone interview on Monday. He clarified that contrary to earlier reports suggesting 50 abductees, 26 individuals, including 19 females and six males, were taken during the attack.
“We managed to raise N3m and offered it to the bandits, but their leader dismissed it as inadequate and hung up,” Shehu lamented. “Since then, we’ve had no contact with them.”
Shehu shared that the bandits struck the village on Sunday, abducting his neighbors, including one of his daughters, who was preparing for marriage. While they demanded a ransom, they did not specify an amount.
The community, which has been repeatedly targeted by bandits, remains under severe distress. The bandits reportedly operate from a nearby camp and have been a longstanding menace.
Despite notifying local security agencies, Shehu said no action has been taken to address the situation. “We’ve reported this and past incidents to the authorities, but there’s been no response.”
Frequent attacks have forced many residents to flee Gidan-Goga, while others, like Shehu, stay behind due to lack of alternatives.
Efforts to reach the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, for comments were unsuccessful as calls went unanswered.
The attack underscores the persistent insecurity in Zamfara, with affected communities calling for urgent intervention to end the menace of banditry.
