In a tragic and chilling escalation of Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis, at least 35 hostages have been killed by armed kidnappers in Zamfara State, despite ransoms being paid for their release, local authorities have confirmed.
The victims were among 56 people abducted in March from Banga village in the Kauran Namoda local government area, part of a region in northwestern Nigeria plagued by violent criminal gangs commonly referred to as “bandits.” These groups have increasingly resorted to mass kidnappings as a method of extortion, with entire communities held hostage by the threat of violence.
According to Manniru Haidara Kaura, the chairman of the Kauran Namoda local government, the gunmen demanded a ransom of one million naira (approximately $655) for each captive. After prolonged negotiations, the ransom was eventually paid, leading to the release of 18 hostages, 17 women and one young boy, over the weekend.
However, what followed shocked the local community and authorities alike. “What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for. They then released 18 people on Saturday,” Haidara told the BBC. “But the rest, mostly young people, were slaughtered like rams.”
A total of 35 victims are confirmed dead, and three others remain unaccounted for. Sixteen of the released captives are currently being treated in hospital for injuries and trauma sustained during their captivity.
The motive behind the killings remains unclear. “Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them,” Haidara said. “They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah.”
As is common in such cases, the bodies of the murdered hostages are unlikely to be returned to their families, as bandits rarely release corpses after executions.
This latest massacre underscores the growing lawlessness in Nigeria’s northern states, where communities are increasingly left to negotiate with heavily armed gangs in the absence of effective state protection. The region has seen hundreds of mass abductions in recent years, targeting villagers, travelers, and schoolchildren.
In response to the spiraling crisis, Nigeria passed a law in 2022 criminalizing ransom payments and making kidnapping resulting in death a capital offense. The legislation imposes a minimum 15-year prison sentence for anyone found guilty of paying ransoms. However, to date, no individual has been prosecuted under the law, and its enforcement remains contentious.
Families often feel forced to pay ransoms to save loved ones, citing the government’s inability to provide adequate security or carry out timely rescue operations. Human rights groups and security experts argue that until the root causes, including poverty, weak governance, and lack of law enforcement, are addressed, the kidnapping industry will continue to thrive.
The Nigerian government has yet to release an official statement on the Zamfara incident, but pressure is mounting on federal authorities to respond decisively to restore confidence among citizens and prevent further tragedies.
Written By Rodney Mbua
