Fear, panic as terrorists  kill 4, abduct 44 in Katsina, demand N250 million ransom

From Abdu Ganiyu, Katsina

Residents of Bakiyawa village of Batagarawa area of Katsina State have been thrown into panic after terrorists who abducted 44 residents of the village demanded N250 million as ransom to release the abductees.

According to reports, the terrorists invaded the community on Wednesday,  September 14, killed four residents, abducted 44, looted shops and rustled cattle.

Speaking about ransom demand, a resident of the community, Yusuf Kaura said the terrorists called him and told him the amount they wanted as ransom to release the captives.

“They called me around 07:00 p.m on Thursday and told me that they were holding 43 of our people. Out of that number, 11 are biologically related to me including my wife and daughters,” he said.

Kaura said the leader of the gang holding the residents asked him if his immediate family was among those abducted.

He told him that his wife, Bilkisu, Ummulsalma, a two-year-old daughter and my eldest daughter, Shafa’atu who is a student of the Federal College of Education Katsina and Ibrahim were among the abductees.

“They’re all with the bandits and I’ve not spoken with them since last Monday (19, September) they called me again around 3:17 p.m and asked what we were waiting for (to pay the ransom),” Laura narrated his ordeal.

“It’s something that we must do but it’s not easy, especially because when they came, they took away everything of value in the community. So, in this community, nobody can tell you that we can get half of that amount”

Kaura, whose shop was also looted, said there was an air of uncertainty and fear in the community as residents await what the terrorists will do next. 

“The government has not said anything to us not to talk of helping us rescue our people. But we’ve now resorted to prayers for God’s interventions,” he said.

Nura Sada, another resident, said residents of Bakiyawa community cannot raise the ransom the terrorists want. 

“Nearly every household is affected. In some houses, more than five people were abducted. We’re meeting to see how we could talk to the terrorists to reduce the money but how do we even start raising the money? How do we even start gathering such an amount of money when we no longer have domestic animals to sell? It’ll be difficult,” he said.

The police spokesperson in Katsina State, Gambo Isa, who spoke with Premium Times over the phone said he had not been officially briefed about the N250 million ransom the kidnappers were demanding.

 “I’ve not been briefed on the matter (ransom demand) so, I don’t know but the command is making efforts to rescue those abducted in Bakiyawa and other communities in the state,” the police spokesperson said.

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