Nigeria kidnappers kill 35 hostages even after ransom paid

Nigeria Kidnappers Kill 35 Hostages Despite Ransom Payment

At least 35 people abducted from Banga village in Nigeria’s northern Zamfara State have been killed by kidnappers, despite the payment of ransom. The devastating news was confirmed by local government officials, adding to the ongoing crisis of insecurity in the region.

Bandits target rural communities for profit

The attackers, widely referred to in Nigeria as bandits, have increasingly used kidnapping as a source of income. These armed criminal gangs often operate with impunity in northwestern Nigeria, where rural communities lack sufficient protection. In March, 56 villagers were kidnapped from Banga, a community in the Kauran Namoda local government area.

Ransom demands and partial release

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one million naira (approximately $655 or £485) for each hostage, a staggering sum for most rural families. After negotiations, the ransom was paid, and 18 captives—including 17 women and one young boy—were released on Saturday. However, the remaining 38 were brutally murdered.

Victims “slaughtered like rams”

Local government chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura described the scene as horrific. “What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for,” he said. “They then released 18 people. Most of those killed were young people. They were slaughtered like rams.”

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Kaura lamented the senselessness of the violence, stating, “Only they know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah.”

Survivors hospitalized, families devastated

Sixteen of those released are currently receiving medical care in hospital. For the families of the 38 killed, the grief is compounded by the likelihood that the bodies will not be returned. In many cases, kidnappers do not release corpses, leaving families without closure or the opportunity for proper burial rites.

Government under pressure as law remains unenforced

The killings have sparked renewed criticism of the Nigerian government’s inability to curb the kidnapping crisis. In 2022, a law was passed criminalizing the payment of ransoms and imposing a minimum 15-year jail term for offenders. The law also made abduction punishable by death if the victims are killed.

Despite the legislation, no one has been prosecuted under the law, and ransom payments remain common, as desperate families feel they have no alternative. Security forces are frequently outnumbered or arrive too late, and many affected areas are remote and under-policed.

Insecurity worsens across northern Nigeria

This tragic incident is the latest in a string of mass abductions and killings that have plagued northern Nigeria for years. Communities across Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, and other northern states continue to live under constant threat from heavily armed gangs. Many residents have been displaced, while others live in fear, with little trust in the state’s ability to protect them.

A nation in mourning and in search of justice

The killing of the hostages has provoked national outrage and sorrow. Civil society groups, religious leaders, and citizens have called for immediate action and justice for the victims. However, until the government takes decisive steps to improve security and enforce existing laws, many fear that such tragedies will continue to repeat themselves.

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