50 Abducted, only 18 freed after N50m ransom – Survivors narrates ordeal in Zamfara bandits den

About three months after armed bandits raided Kaura Namoda town and Banga village in Zamfara State, abducting over 50 residents, mainly women and children, only 18 have been released while 38 are feared dead in captivity, despite a ₦50 million ransom payment.

The coordinated assault was reportedly led by the infamous bandit leader Dan Sadiya, who is said to control vast areas in Kaura Namoda.

Witnesses revealed that the heavily armed attackers stormed the community at night, firing sporadically to terrify residents, most of whom fled into the bush.

The bandits carried out house-to-house abductions, targeting mostly women and children after the men escaped.

They also looted food and household items before marching their victims away on foot.

After several weeks in captivity, the abductors initially demanded ₦150 million, but negotiations brought the ransom down to ₦50 million.

Residents sold livestock and farm produce and reached out to relatives in Gusau, Kano, Kaduna, and Abuja to raise the funds. However, after collecting the ransom, the bandits released only 18 of the victims.

According to survivors and their relatives, 38 captives died in horrific conditions, some were reportedly slaughtered, others shot, and several children starved to death due to extreme hunger.

Victims also suffered torture, with some dying from beatings, while others were executed for failing to provide additional ransom.

There were also multiple accounts of sexual violence against the abducted women.

Many of the released victims were said to be in critical condition.

Three were transferred to Yariman Bakura Teaching Hospital in Gusau, while others remain in recovery at the Kaura Namoda General Hospital.

Residents have raised alarm over the increasing wave of banditry in Kaura Namoda, claiming bandits now move openly, armed and unchallenged, even in daylight.

Recent attacks have claimed several lives and displaced entire communities, as the perpetrators continue to steal livestock and destroy livelihoods.

Kaura Namoda Local Government Chairman, Mannir Mu’azu Haidara, confirmed the release of the 18 victims and assured that they are receiving medical attention.

He added that security agencies are working with local authorities to address the rising insecurity.

Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Government has condemned the killings as “barbaric and desperate.”

Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, described the massacre as evidence of the pressure being mounted on terrorist groups. He assured that justice will be served swiftly.

Governor Dauda Lawal, in a separate statement, vowed not to cede an inch of Zamfara to criminals.

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“This is not just a fight against terrorism. It is a fight for the soul of Zamfara,” he said, calling on citizens to unite and support security efforts to defeat terror.