11 kidnapped persons escape from bandits camp in Kaduna

Eleven kidnapped persons who were held as hostages have escaped from the bandits camp in Kaduna State.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in Kaduna on Thursday.

He said: “Reports from security agencies have informed the Kaduna State government that 11 hostages escaped from bandits’ camps at the outskirts of Sabon Birni town in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

“According to the reports, ongoing security operations dislodged many of the bandits’ camps, leaving them in disarray and enabling the escape of the hostages being held there.

“Careful checks revealed that the 11 hostages are a mix of those kidnapped from Dumbin Rauga, Zaria Local Government Area and also along the Kaduna-Zaria highway.

“The escaped hostages were identified as Fatima Sani, Aisha Falalu, Amina Aliyu, Hadizatu Sani and Bashar Falalu

“Others were Fatima Umar, Zara Umar (and her child), Hadiza Madu Sharif, Hauwa Ali, Zara Madu Sharif and Maryam Madu

“It was reported that the families of those kidnapped at Dumbin Rauga had collectively paid a ransom of N3 million, but the bandits reneged on the agreement to release the captives, insisting that two motorcycles must be included in the ransom deal.

“Receiving the reports, Governor Nasir el-Rufai expressed his satisfaction with the developments, praising the military’s efforts and the effect of the onslaught on bandit hideouts across the state.