Families of 16 kidnap victims from Gonin Gora community in Kaduna State, have been told to pay a ransom of N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans and I50 motorbikes, if they wish to see their loved ones again.
The bandits had invaded the community on February 28, killed two person and whisked away 16 others.
“The bandits have contacted us. They are demanding N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans and 150 motorcycles for the release of 16 people they are holding captive,” a community member John Yusuf narrated to news reports
“Where are we going to get this kind of money? Even if we sell the entire community, we cannot raise N40 trillion. Even Nigeria, as a country, has never made a budget of N40 trillion.
“The abductions happened twice within four days. During the first attack, three people were kidnapped, while in the second attack, 13 people were abducted, bringing the total number of people being held captive to 16.”
He called for more security presence in the area.
Meanwhile, one of the 280 students kidnapped in Kuriga, Chikun Local government area of Kaduna State, Mustapha Abubakar has escaped back into safety.
He narrated his ordeal during a BBC Hausa interview: “We trekked in the bush, sometimes we crawled. We were so thirsty, some of the girls were becoming weak and falling down due to tiredness. The bandits were lifting them up and putting some of them on motorcycles.”
“We later reached a big river were we drank water and continued trekking. There was a plane that hovered above us. That was when the bandits ordered us to remove one of our clothes and lie down.”
“Even the bandits were exhausted. They had no food and were eating leaves and wild fruits. They gave us nothing to eat.
“While we were moving, I noticed a shrub which was brown in colour like my trouser. I hid inside and crawled like a snake. I was there until it was completely silent before I came out and headed to the bush.”
“I later met an old Man who was having difficulty walking, I asked him the pathway to the main road or any close place so that I could get water to drink.”
