Zamfara bandits threaten to marry off captives over unpaid ₦12m ransom

<p>The bandits are getting increasingly impatient over the inability of the captives' families to meet the ransom demand.</p>, <span>Zamfara bandits threaten to marry off female captives over unpaid ₦12m ransom/Illustration. PremiumTimes</span>, <h2>Bandits in Zamfara State have threatened to marry off four female captives over their parents’ inability to pay an N12 million ransom.</h2>, <p>The abductees, whic include a student of the Zamfara State College of Arts and Science, sent out an SOS after their kidnappers gave their families a one-week ultimatum to pay the ransom.</p>, <p>The victims, identified as Ummukhair, Aisha Yahaya, Jemila Yahaya, and Ummu Sani, were reportedly abducted along the dreaded Birnin Magaji-Kaura Namoda Road six months ago on their way back from a wedding.</p>, <p>In a two-minute 19-second video obtained by Channels Television on Saturday, July 22, 2023, the captives can be seen begging their parents to meet the bandits' demands.</p>, <p>“We are begging you, parents, in the name of God. We are in trouble here with our abductors. Please, look for money to secure our freedom,” they pleaded.</p>, <p>“The past government of Governor Bello Matawalle failed to secure our release. This is our sixth month and some days in captivity. We are begging the Governor Dauda Lawal-led administration to do something.”</p>, <p>Aminu Yahaya, an elder brother to one of the victims, told Channels Television that the bandits abducted six girls, but two of them have been released after the payment of ₦6m ransom.</p>, <p>“I was the one that took the other ransom of N6 million to them before they released two girls.”</p>, <p>“Now they are giving us a one-week ultimatum to pay N12 million or else they will marry off our sisters,” he added.</p>, <p>Yahaya appealed for the intervention of the state government and citizens to bring the captives home.</p>