An Air force jet roar has scared away bandits holding 20 kidnapped victims from Katoge village of Batsari local government area in Katsina state.
Speaking to newsmen Saturday evening at the Hajj camp in Katsina, the victims said they spent five months at the bandits den in a part of the dreaded Rugu forest.
The list consists of 10 women, eight girls, one boy and an adult.
Rabiu Mannir, 27, said the bandits heard roar of jets Friday night and scampered to safety, giving them (victims) the chance to escaped
“We were sitting as usual with a few of the bandits boys who were guarding us when we heard the jet. They started running and when I saw them running, I began to unlock the padlock they lock my legs and run,” he said.
“I also asked the women to pick their children so that we can all run to safety,” He said.
Another victim, Rabi Isa, 47, said she was picked in her matrimonial home during the night raid.
“In the five months we’ve spent there, I didn’t bath throughout. We ate twice a day but later they changed it to once a day. They constantly harrased and beat us,” she said.
Among the victims was Sahura Haruna who was kidnapped with an early pregnancy, but has now given birth to a baby girl.
While handing over of the victims to Batsari local government council, Katsina Secretary Government of the state, Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, said the victims were brought back by Zamfara state government.
“After running away from the bandits den, some of them found themselves in Zamfara state. They have been medically checked in Zamfara before they were sent to us this evening,” Inuwa said.
