In a startling turn of events, bandits have purportedly demanded a staggering N40 trillion as ransom for the release of 16 residents abducted from the Gonin Gora area of Kaduna.
According to John Yusuf, a prominent community leader, the bandits have also requested 11 Hilux vans and 150 motorcycles from the families of the victims.
The recent demand marks an unprecedented escalation in ransom negotiations, highlighting the growing audacity of criminal elements in Nigeria’s security landscape.
The bandits’ brazen actions have plunged communities into despair, with residents grappling with the daunting task of meeting such exorbitant demands.
In a harrowing account of the ordeal, Yusuf revealed that the bandits launched two successive attacks on the beleaguered community within a span of four days.
The initial assault claimed the lives of two residents from Anguwan Auta in Gonin Gora, while subsequent raids resulted in the abduction of several individuals.
The gravity of the situation became apparent as residents mobilised to stage a protest, barricading the Kaduna-Abuja highway to demand justice for the victims and greater security measures from the authorities.
Amidst the prevailing chaos, Yusuf issued a heartfelt plea to the government, urging immediate action to stem the tide of banditry ravaging the region.
With communities besieged by criminal elements exploiting remote hideouts in dense vegetation, the need for a robust security apparatus has never been more pressing.
Emphasising the urgent need for a military presence, Yusuf implored authorities to establish a strategic base behind the community, effectively curtailing the nefarious activities of the bandits.
Despite commendable efforts by the Nigerian Army, the pervasive threat of banditry continues to loom large, underscoring the imperative for decisive governmental intervention.
