The bandits who abducted women accompanying a bride to her matrimonial home at Damari, Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State last Thursday have released a video showing the captives.
In the video, which is currently trending on social media, the bandits threatened to tie the wedding knot between the already married lady and one of them, unless relations of the captors paid a ransom of N100 million to them.
Similarly, the outlaws vowed to sell off the ‘62 wedding guests’ that were kidnapped alongside the bride, if their demands were not met.
During last Thursday’s attack on the wedding convoy, four members of a vigilante group were reportedly killed and no fewer than 55 wedding guests, including children, were snatched, and have since then been held hostage, according to villagers.
The victims, including friends of the bride from Dandume, were ambushed at Sabuwa while travelling in an open van.
In the footage, a gang leader, clad in police uniform, put the captives’ number at 63.
He taunted the government saying they would marry off the bride if the ransom was not paid.
“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,” he said.
CRUX NEWS reports that around the time of the wedding guests’ abduction, some assailants, believed to be in the Siddi Forest, attacked Tashar Nadaya, near the Gazari District border in Sabuwa LGA.
In this separate incident, a commercial motorcycle rider lost his life and his bike was stolen.
The attackers also targeted a group of four individuals, opened fire at them, and seized their motorcycles.
Similarly, armed bandits had kidnapped 30 people from Tasharnagulle village in Batsari LGA of the state. They were later rescued by the military and handed over to the Katsina State governor.
Speaking to 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 captives unharmed.
