Bandits ask abductees to demand telecom restoration; Kaduna govt announces immediate restoration of telecoms services; N5m ransom paid for release of another Bethel Baptist student
Banditry is one of the major security challenges bedeviling the country though impacting geopolitical locations disproportionately.
The scale of killings and kidnappings for ransom in the State of Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, and the environs is alarming.
A viral video has emerged revealing suspected unidentified bandits parading their victims in an unidentified location suspected to be a forest in Kaduna state.
In the video, the gunmen who are robed in military camouflage and uniforms made their abductees call on the government to come to their rescue and also reopen telecoms services.
The gunmen in the video are also seen showing off their firepower by shooting sporadically in the air.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has announced the immediate restoration of telecoms services in all the affected areas in the state.
It however says other measures are still in place including the ban on motorcycles, transportation of livestock in and out of the state, a shutdown of rural markets amongst others
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, made this known while addressing pressmen on Friday.
The Headboy of Bethel Baptist College in Kaduna state who was among the 121 students abducted from the college on July 5 this year has regained freedom.
He was released by the bandits on Thursday night due to his poor health condition. The bandits however insisted on a five million naira ransom before he was released.
One of the officials of the college and Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria Kaduna Branch, Joseph Hayab who made this disclosure Friday, also noted that three students are still in the bandits’ custody.
He added that the bandits are bent on a 15 million naira ransom before the remaining students will be released.
Recall that a resurgence of their activities along the Kaduna- Abuja Highway led to the abduction of an unspecified number of persons and the killing of a former governorship aspirant from Zamfara State on Sunday.
