Zamfara Governor promises to end banditry, receives rescued victims; Gunmen abduct two Catholic Priests in Niger

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has received four young women rescued from their abductors after seven months in captivity.

The Kidnappers had earlier demanded twelve million naira ransom for the victims release.

They were kidnapped on the 15th of January this year along Kaura Namoda/ Birnin Magaji road, while returning from a wedding ceremony

The victims had a few weeks ago appeared in video clip released by their captors appealing to Governor Lawal to help in facilitating their release

A statement by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, says Governor Lawal expressed worries since the release of the clip that went viral on social media and that promoted the swift response that led to the freedom

Government Lawal assures that his Government will do all it takes to ensure a quick end to Banditry and Kidnapping, noting that security is the responsibility of all

He further appeal to the victims to consider the incident as an act of God and it should not in any way affect their lives, as they have a better future ahead

The rescued Kidnap victims were reunited with their families.

Meanwhile, two priests of St Luke’s Catholic Church, Gyedna, Garam Ward in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Fr Paul Sanogo and Seminarian Melchior have been reportedly abducted by gunmen suspected to be bandits on Thursday morning.

The police public relations officer Wasiu Abiodun confirmed this incidence and disclosed that the police tactical teams led by the DPO of Tafa Division have also been dispatched to the scene.

The Catholic Bishop of Minna, Most Rev Dr Martin Igwe Uzoukwu in a message sent to church members confirmed that the two priests were pastoral workers at St Luke’s Catholic Church Gyedna.

The church is located on the outskirt of the town, which is about an hour drive from Sabon-Wuse, and surrounded with mountains and forest, close to Kagarko are of Kaduna state