Bandits operating in the Gonin Gora region of Kaduna State have escalated their demands, seeking a staggering N40 trillion ransom, along with 11 Hilux vans and 150 motorcycles, in exchange for the release of 16 abducted residents.
The startling demand was revealed by community leader John Yusuf, who confirmed that the bandits made contact with the victims’ families to convey their demands.
“The bandits have contacted us. They are demanding N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans, and 150 motorcycles for the release of the 16 people they are holding captive,” Yusuf stated, expressing disbelief and despair over the astronomical sum demanded.
He lamented the frequency of bandit incursions, revealing that the community had been targeted twice within a single week.
“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,” Yusuf said.
According to him, “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 lamented the vast bushes bordring the community and Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state and appealed for the establishment of a military based in to check the activities of the criminals.
“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.”
Yusuf acknowledged the Nigerian Army’s efforts in combating the bandit menace but stressed that the security forces are overstretched in vast communities.
He said, “The army are really trying, despite the fact that they are seriously overstretched. Whenever we make distressed calls they come.
“But the problem is that before they reach the community, the bandits would have done what they wanted and left.”
The community leaders further called on the federal and state governments to take proactive action to prevent the menace from consuming “all of us.”
