January 06, (THEWILL) – Bandits have released at least 28 people kidnapped from communities in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
The victims were released on Wednesday after their families reportedly paid over N18 million ransom to the kidnappers.
Each of the victim’s families, THEWILL learnt, paid about N600,000.
According to reports, those released were conveyed in a commercial vehicle from the Zamfara and Kaduna borders and dropped at Doka village in Kaduna State by their captors from where they trekked several kilometres through the bush to the main road.
It was learnt that the relations of the freed abductees met them at the main road.
When contacted, the Niger State Police Commissioner, Monday Bala Kuyars, confirmed the victims’ release, saying they were released after having serious dialogue with their kidnappers and most probably because the heat from the military and police operation in the area was getting too hot for the kidnappers.
Kuyars said he could not confirm if the abductees’ relations paid any ransom to the bandits to facilitate their release but added that he heard something like that took place.
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