From Maiharaji Altine
Bandits have kidnapped three farmers in Wanzammai village of Tsafe local government area, Zamfara state, collected two motorcycles and N2m as ransom but refused to release the victims.
An indigene of the area, Aliyu Hudu told Analyzer news that, the bandits kidnapped Yahaya Sani, Bello Shehu and Musa Sabo along Kucheri-Tsafe road in Tsafe local government area of the state five days ago.
Hudu stated that, the bandits had earlier demanded the sum of N10 million ransom for the release of the three victims.
But after series of negotiations, the bandits have agreed to collect the sum of N2 million and two brand new motorcycles.
According to Hudu, when the money and the two motorcycles were handed over to the bandits, they refused to release the three persons, saying that, they still needed additional N3 million.
Hudu expressed disgust over the lukewarm attitude of both the federal and the state government to provide security to the people of the area.
According to him, the bandits’ camp was very close to the main road, lamenting that no effort was made to dislodge them.
“To be honest with you, the bandits’ camp which is situated in Munhaye village just 50 kilometers away from Funtua-Tsafe-Gusau road has never been attacked by the security personnel”.
“They ( security personnel) know the place (Munhaye village) but they never tried to go there and arrest these criminals”.
“There is never a day when two or more people are not kidnapped on this road”.
“If you can remember, the NYSC corps members who were traveling to Sokoto from Akwa Ibon were kidnapped on this road”.
“Similarly, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Usman Danfodiyo University was also killed here”.
“Many important personalities were either kidnapped or killed around this area and no action has been taken to go and finish these marauding bandits”.
Hudu further explained that, farming activities have been grounded in the entire area because of the fear of bandits attacks.
All efforts to talk to the spokesperson of the state police command ASP Yazid Abubakar failed, as his phone numbers could not be reached at the time of filling in this report.
