Bandits K!ll 35 Kidnapped Victims For Not Paying Ransom

At least 35 abducted individuals from Banga village in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State were reportedly killed by bandits for failing to pay a N35 million ransom.

A native of the village, Sani Suleiman, revealed this during a phone interview with Punch on Sunday, July 27, 2025, stating that bandits had abducted 53 people from the village, demanding a sum of one million naira from each of the captives.

According to him, the 53 kidnapped victims had been held in captivity for several months, but only 18 of them who managed to pay the ransom were set free.

He asserted that the remaining 35 captives who were unable to pay the ransom were brutally killed one after another.

“Those who were released after paying the ransom told us that the bandits slaughtered the remaining 35 captives who could not pay the ransom one after the other in their presence,” he said.

Suleiman further noted that their village was currently under the control of the bandits.

He urged the state government to intervene and deploy security forces to the area before the residents are forced to flee to other locations for safety.

When reached for comment, the Special Adviser to Governor Dauda Lawal on Security Matters, Ahmed Danmanga, said he was aware of the incident but was uncertain about the exact number of residents who were k1lled.

Danmanga confirmed that the state government has sent mobile police to the village to prevent further attacks by bandits.

“I am aware that the bandits have k!lled some residents of Banga village, but actually I don’t know the exact number of people k!lled. As I am talking to you now, we have deployed mobile police to protect the lives and properties of the people of the village,” he said.

“Zamfara State Government is working around the clock to ensure that the people of the state are given maximum protection against banditry and other criminal activities. We are, however, handicapped due to an inadequate number of security personnel.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli