Kidnappers free bride after ransom payment

The bride who was kidnapped recently with ten others on her way to her husband’s house in Kaduna State has been freed after ransom payment.

Halima and her sister, Shafa’atu who have kidnapped four days ago, along  Birnin-Gwari-Funtua road, reportedly regained their freedom around 8.40am on Friday after their relatives paid N1m to the abductors.

A family source close to the kidnapped women disclosed to PR Nigeria that: “They were released yesterday after the payment of one million naira to the kidnappers who kept the families in suspense for sixteen hours till around 0500 hours local time when they  took the bride and her sister to the Mai unguwa of Tsohon (old)  Birnin-Gwari.

The groom, Abdullahi Wushishi who was waiting anxiously in Birnin-Gwari town confirmed the release of his Amarya adding that they were on their way to Wushishi in Niger State.

The bride and 10 escorts were abducted last Saturday at gunpoint by bandits in the area.

The bride, after the wedding, was being conveyed to her husband’s house by her friends and relatives when the gunmen stopped the vehicle and took them away.

A former chairman of the local government, who asked not to be named for security reasons, disclosed on phone that the gunmen operated with impunity as nobody challenged them.

He said: “They simply stopped a bus that was conveying the bride to her husband’s house with her relatives and friends numbering about 10.

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“The incident took place about 55 kilometres from Birnin Gwari main town.”

“It was learnt that three of the people abducted, including a member of the bride’s entourage, escaped and returned to the town Friday morning.

“The Funtua Road is now a danger zone because at any point they (bandits) can strike. They operate with impunity along that highway because it is the border of Birnin Gwari and Katsina.

“Our vigilantes need little support to engage these bandits. The government needs to mobilise the vigilantes and support them to enable them discharge their duties effectively.”

In a similar development, two young men riding a motorcycle were also abducted along Uduwa community in Birnin Gwari with their abductors demanding for N3 million ransom.

It was gathered that one of the victims is the son of the Deputy Imam of Uduwa village.

Birnin Gwari has witnessed several attacks by armed bandits in recent times 11 soldiers were recently killed in the town by the bandits who attacked a military checkpoint.