From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Members of Nahuche community in Bungudu local government area of Zamfara state have staged a peaceful demonstration, calling on both the Federal and Zamfara state governments to come to their aids, as bandits continued to kill their people on daily basis, despite paying N200 million as ransom.
The community members who converged at the Government House Gusau on Sunday said they have so far spent over N200 million in paying ransom to bandits as well as settlement of vigilante group’s allowances, yet the situation remained the same.
The protesting community revealed that armed bandits have killed a prominent businessman of the community after they received N35m ransom.
Addressing newsmen after the demonstration, the community led by the former chairman of the local government, Alhaji Musa Manager Nahuce said the people of their town could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.
Nahuce disclosed that many people were kidnapped from the village last Saturday and were in kidnappers dens.
According him, the bandits have recently kidnapped and killed a prominent businessman in the village, Alhaji Hadi Babangeme even after collecting the sum of N35m ransom
“We were shocked and traumatized when we heard that a businessman Alhaji Hadi Babangeme Nahuce died in the hand of his kidnappers after they received N35million ransom from his family”.
“We are no longer safe and many have fled the town”.
“We paid no fewer than N200million ransom to armed bandits but yet we are no longer safe,they keep on attacking and abducting our people “.
He disclosed that, ”Recently the bandits abducted nine people and the ransom was paid, but they refused to release them until we supplied them with motorcycles again before they released them”.
The community,therefore appealed to State, federal governments and security agencies to come to their aid and protect them from incessant attacks.
They appealed for the deployment of more security personnel, establishment of mobile police base and presence of more military troops in the area.
The state Governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle was not at the Government House to receive the demonstrating community.