After 17 days in captivity, the 19 villagers abducted from Kuntuku community in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State, have regained their freedom.
21st Century Chronicle learnt that the captives were released by the bandits after paying five million and a Honda motorcycle as ransom.
Bandits had attacked the community at the wee hours of Monday, March 8 and herded away 19 people including two would-be brides and their father.
Their abductors had initially demanded N200 million, but the community offered N3.5 million which the bandits turned down.
An elder in the community, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Joji, told our reporter on the phone on Wednesday that the bandits have released the villagers after collecting five million and a Honda motorcycle.
“We reached a concession with the bandits to make five million and a Honda motorcycle available to them as a condition to release our people.
“We have met their demand and as I’m speaking with you, the abducted persons have been released and are their way to the community”, he explained.
When asked whether the state government played a role in the release of the captives, he answered in the negative, noting that the community has to rally round and reach out relations as well as sons and daughters who are relatively comfortable for interventions.
“We are grateful to those of you who identified with us during our trying times; may Allah reward you abundantly,” he prayed.
