Suspected bandits who recently kidnapped the principal of Government Secondary School, Ruma, Katsina State, Malam Sani Sa’idu Usha, and in separate operations abducted 30 other residents of Batsari town also in the state, are asking for N150 million ransom in order to release all the abductees
A resident of the town, Lawal Batsari said the bandits called the principal’s family, asking them to provide N100 million for his release.
They also demanded N50 million for the women and children who are also in their custody, Leadership reports.
He said, “It was not long that bandits started invading Batsari community again. They recently took about 30 persons mostly women and children between the ages of three and five during immunisation.
“They are now demanding N50 million ransom to release them, while the principal who was kidnapped a few days back on his way from school, asked the family to bring N100 million to the kidnappers.”
Investigation however revealed that bandits’ recent resurgence in Batsari town and its environs, especially from the Ramadan period till date has continued to raise tension and fear among the people who struggle to have a meal a day.
Katsina, despite being the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, has witnessed sporadic attacks by bandits and kidnappers that have claimed the lives of many.
Over 500 people have been reportedly killed by the gunmen in Jibia, Kankara, Dutsinma, Musawa, Danmusa and Safana local government areas of the state in the last five months.
On December 11, 2020, some bandits kidnapped 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara. They were released about a week later.
Also on December 19, 84 Islamiyya students of Hizburrahim Islamiyya in Mahuta village, Dandume Local Government Area of the state were abducted but rescued shortly after.
