A video making rounds on social media shows suspected bandits parading 63 people in captivity who are crying out for help.
Last Thursday, bandits reportedly abducted a bride and her entourage in an open van on their way to escort the bride to Damari, Sabuwa local government area of Katsina state.
The bandits threatened to marry off the new bride again, adding that there were 63 hostages in their den.
In the video, the abductees were calling on their relatives to pay a demanded ransom of N100m to rescue them from the bandits. They also claimed that they remained unhurt by their captives.
WikkiTimes gathered that during the abduction on Thursday, four members belonging to a vigilante group reportedly lost their lives and the rest ended up in captivity.
As seen in the video, the bride was wearing camouflage and armed with a gun alongside another girl. The bride also pleaded with her relatives to come to her rescue and pay the ransom for their release.
The gang leader dressed in a Police uniform, dared the government to come and rescue the captives.
“I am the one who abducted them, and I will never release them until ransom is paid. And if there is anyone who thinks they could rescue them, they should try it.”
While briefing newsmen on the incident, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa, said government officials had met with security agents and were devising ways of rescuing the victims unhurt.
He called on the relatives of the captives to remain calm, adding that rescuing the abductees cannot happen overnight.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Katsina State Police, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu was not available as a text message sent remained unattended to at press time.
