Gunmen, who kidnapped children and women in Wanzamai village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have demanded N30 million ransom.
The armed bandits had raided a farm in Wanzamai, a community on Zamfara-Katsina border on Friday morning, April 7, and abducted the victims.
A resident of Wanzamai village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State identified as Sani Wanzamai said about 80 children from Wanzamai village were kidnapped and more than 20 other persons from villages in neighbouring Katsina State, were abducted.
A source told Daily Trust that the abductors had called some of the victims’ families and demanded that N60m must be paid before the children can be released.
“Negotiations have started in earnest and kidnappers have reduced the ransom to N30 million. They asked the families of the victims to go and raise the money,” the source said.
However, the spokesman of the State Police Command, CSP Muhammad Shehu, in a statement said the number of the victims reported was “outrageous.”
As the command urges the public to disregard the outrageous figures being circulated on some section of the media. The Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Police, CP Kolo Yusuf psc, has reassured the public especially families of the abducted women and children of Wanzamai Village in Tsafe LGA of the state that, the command in collaboration with the military and vigilantes are making tireless efforts to rescue the victims hale and hearty and reunite them with their families/relations,” the statement read.
“Information received by the Command from Village Head of Wanzamai revealed that, about nine (9) women and children left their homes to the bush to fetch firewood. As they moved deep into the forest, they were accosted and abducted to unknown destination by bandits.
“On receipt of the report, nearby joint police and other security agencies mobilised to the scene and commenced search and rescue operation with a view to rescuing the hostages and arrest the assailants. The Commissioner of Police further deployed additional police tactical team to complement the ongoing rescue mission.”