Zamfara bandits demand cows in exchange for abducted persons

Armed bandits in Zamfara State are demanding the release of their cows seized by security operatives in exchange for the abducted persons, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered.

About 40 people were abducted on Friday when gunmen intercepted trucks conveying traders to Magami Market in Maru Local Government Area of the state.

Relatives of some of the abducted persons, who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday, said that the bandits were insisting on the release of their cows.

A resident of Kurar Mota village, whose neighbours are among the victims, said the bandits have been making demands through phone calls to victims relatives.

“They have placed ransom on some of these individuals. The ransom is between N500,000 and N1 million. When we call the phone numbers of the abducted persons, the bandits would seize the phone and answer the calls. They are threatening to kill the victims if their demands are not met”, Murtala, a resident of Kurar Mota, said.

Also speaking, a resident of Magami town identified as Alhaji Danlami told Daily Trust on Sunday that one of the abducted residents was able to escape.

“He sneaked out of the camp last night and when the bandits learnt that he was trying to escape, they started firing shots. He arrived here this morning,” he added.

The spokesman of the state police command DSP Muhammad Shehu, denied knowledge of the bandits demand, but reiterated the police command’s commitment to rescuing the victims.

“Our men are inching towards these hoodlums. We will get them soon. Security operatives are intensifying efforts to get them,” he said.