The bandits who abducted 16 individuals from the Gonin Gora area of Kaduna metropolis have requested a ransom of N40 trillion for their release.
On Wednesday, February 28th, assailants targeted the Gonin-Gora neighborhood, located in the Chikun Local Government Area, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis, abducting 16 residents.
This ransom demand arises only four days subsequent to the abduction of 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga, another locality within Chikun.
John Yusuf, a community leader in the vicinity, disclosed this development during a telephone conversation with The Nation Newspaper on Monday in Kaduna.
He said, “The bandits have contacted us. They are demanding N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans, and 150 motorcycles for the release of 16 people they are holding captive.
“Where are we going to get this kind of money? Even if we sell the entire community, we cannot raise N40 trillion. Even Nigeria as a country has never made a budget of N40 trillion.”
The community leader said the bandits invaded the community two times within a week.
“The abductions happened twice within a four-day interval. During the first attack, three people were kidnapped, while in the second attack, 13 people were abducted, bringing the total number of people being held captive to 16.”
He voiced apprehension regarding the vast stretches of bushes surrounding the community and extending into the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.
He advocated for the deployment of a military base in the region to deter the criminal activities.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aid by establishing a military base behind our community where the bandits take advantage of the bushes to invade our community.
“From our community down to Birnin Gwari, which is over 150 kilometres, is a stretch of bush.
“We also have another stretch of bushes from Gonin Gora down to Niger State.
“So when the criminals have free access through the bushes to our community, we are pleading with government to help us,” the community leader pleaded.