Five people have been abducted by bandits in Gatawa town, Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto state.
Gatawa has experienced series of abduction by different bandit groups in recent times.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE recalled that over N10 million was paid as ransom for over 20 persons kidnapped in the area last month.
A resident of the area told our reporter that the bandits invaded the village on Wednesday around 8am and abducted many residents, but later released all the women.
“They are still holding five of our men, demanding the sum of N500,000 for their release,” the resident who pleaded anonymity said.
“Just recently, we paid the sum of N11 million to secure the release of some of our kinsmen abducted by another group of bandits under the leadership of Malam Sa’idu.”
A.former chairman of the local government area, Idris Gobir, confirmed the development. He said this 85 communities under Gatawa district were asked to pay N300,000 each.
Gobir said banditry in the area had taken a different dimension, adding that some communities were under the control of bandits.
“They assumed leadership of some of our communities imposing o village heads in them and collecting levies from residents,” he said.
“As I am talking to you, over N35 million were paid to them so far.”
He dismissed the claim by the police that, no community was paying levy to bandits.
“They are lying, they (police) know that the bandits have imposed levies on our communities because they are notified,” he said.
