By Iliya Kure
News of the killing of three out of the 26 kidnapped individuals 3 weeks ago, have sent fears among families of remaining victims in Kaduna.
On Monday, kidnappers killed 3 out of those taken on 30th March in Sabon Tasha community, for failure to pay ransom, with threats of killing more on daily basis, if the kidnappers’ demands were not met.
Reacting to the threat, a family member of a victim, Mrs. Christiana Job, said news of the planned killing of the rest had already made them lose control, “I am so scared. We don’t know the condition of our brother, whether he is alive or not.
“We are all sad with what happened to these three and we are hoping and praying that they [kidnappers] don’t execute their plans.
“We are working hard to raise money to take to them,” she said.
Also speaking, a relation of another victim, Sunday Sayi, said his family is already in trauma, running helter-skelter looking for money to rescue their member.
“We have taxed ourselves and have been selling property, including vehicles and a house,” said.
“So far, we have raised about 1.5 million out of the N5 million they [kidnappers] placed as ransom.
On 31st March, unknown gunmen invaded Sabon Tasha community at around 8pm shooting sporadically, where they killed two and abducted 26 others.
Ward Head of Ungwan Bulus [Sabon Tasha area invaded], Mr. Gideon Haruna Goni, on Tuesday, announced to journalists in Kaduna, the killing of the three by their kidnappers.
He said on receiving calls from the kidnappers, the community mobilised and went and picked corpses of those killed around Dutse, a village along Kaduna-Abuja express way.
According to him, the abductors had demanded additional N20m before 12pm on Tuesday (April 19, 2022), otherwise more of the kidnapped victims would be killed.
“They have threatened to kill more, especially women if their demands are not met. 26 were abducted, one was released, three were killed.
“The one that was released was based on health grounds. He has liver problem,” the Chief said.
“We came together as a community, raised some amount and they called us and told us to pick corpses of victim’s from Dutse.
“I am appealing to them not to kill anyone; we are appealing to the state and federal government as well as religious clerics to come to our rescue so that the killings will stop.
According to him, one of those whose family members were kidnapped, said they were able to raise N7m, but the terrorists insist on N20m.
Calls made to the Police spokesperson in Kaduna, Mohammed Jalige, to confirm the killings were not successful, as he was not picking his calls.
