Bandits in Katsina State have released a disturbing video showcasing the wedding guests abducted during an attack last Thursday on a convoy in Damari, Sabuwa Local Government Area.
In the video, the bandits, numbering around 63 and dressed in police uniform, demand a ransom of N100 million for the release of the hostages.
The footage shows the bandits displaying their captives, including women wearing military attire with AK-47 rifles slung around their necks. The leader of the bandits taunts the government, threatening to forcibly marry the already-married bride unless the ransom is paid. Additionally, they vow to sell off the hostages if their demands are not met.
The victims, consisting of 55 wedding guests and four members of a vigilante group, were ambushed while travelling in an open van in Sabuwa. Tragically, the attackers killed the vigilante members and abducted the wedding guests, which included children.
Family members of the abducted victims have confirmed the ransom demand, expressing their inability to provide such a substantial amount. Haruna Abdullahi, an uncle of the bride, stated, “They are asking for N100 million as ransom. None of us has ever seen that amount of money, so I told them directly that we don’t have such funds.”
Among those kidnapped are eight sisters and nine daughters from one family, along with several other relatives. The bandits claim they shot the video as a challenge to Governor Dikko Umar Radda, who reportedly vowed to rescue the victims.
