Armed bandits on motorcycles | Image: Google
By Valentine Amanze
Bandits in Zamfara State, northweat Nigeria, have continued their “Operation No Mercy” with the slaughter of no fewer than 35 victims despite N1 million ransome payment from families of each of their victims at the weekend.
The victims were abducted from their homes in Kaura Namoda near Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, recently.
Nigeria News Flight gathered that the armed bandits whisked away 56 people, when they struck Banga village, Kaura Namoda council in March 2025.
The gunmen then demanded a ransom of one million naira ($655; £485) per captive, according to BBC report.
The Kaura Namoda Local Government Area Chairman, Manniru Haidara Kaura, who confirmed the incident, said that most of those killed were young people who “were slaughtered like rams”.
Also read: Bandits hit Niger again, kill 13 people
“What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for. They then released 18 people, including 17 women and one young boy, on Saturday,” Haidara added.
“Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah.”
Sixteen of those released on Saturday are in hospital receiving treatment, while the bodies of the 38 killed by the bandits are unlikely to be returned as in these cases corpses are rarely released.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State government has condemned the killings, calling them “barbaric and cowardly” and declared that such atrocities added to its resolve to wipe out terrorism from the state.
“To the grieving families, we share your sorrow and pray for strength and healing. To the good people of Zamfara, remain united and vigilant.
“Report suspicious activities, and together, we will defeat evil.”
The government also assured that the killers would be brought to justice.
In an attempt to curb the spiralling and lucrative kidnapping industry, a law was enacted in 2022 making it a crime to make ransom payments.
It carries a jail sentence of at least 15 years, however no-one has ever been arrested on those charges.
It also made abduction punishable by death in cases where victims die.
But families often feel forced to pay to save their loved ones, citing the government’s inability to ensure their safety.
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