TheCable

Suspected bandits have released 30 persons in Katsina in a prisoner-swap deal with the state government.

Aminu Masari, governor of the state, received the kidnap victims on Saturday.

Eight of the victims are from Kankara local government area while 18 are from Shimfida in Jibiya local government council of the state.

The released persons were brought to Katsina state government house by one of the bandits, who said the victims were held at Damsadau forest in Zamfara, a neighbouring state.

In his remarks, Masari said the government would continue to persuade the bandits to release more victims until there was none in their custody.

He said the victims will be taken to hospitals for medical check-up before they are reunited with their families.

Zinatu Sani, one of the victims from Kankara local government area, said she was kidnapped from her home with two of her children.

She said they slept in an open space for 55 days despite the weather condition, adding that the bandits initially demanded a ransom of N20 million from her, but was later reduced to N6 million.

Sani said despite the reduction in ransom fee, her family could not pay. She also said there are still many people in captivity in the forest.

Sabiu Jibia, an Islamic cleric, had lamented the atrocities committed by bandits in the state.

He said women and children in the state have become victims of rape perpetuated by bandits.

The cleric also lamented the desertion of villages and farmlands as well as the kidnappings in some local government areas in the state.

About 22 persons were reportedly killed and scores of women abducted when bandits attacked Zangon-Kankara and Makera in Kankara local government area of the state in July.

In August, 38 persons were also kidnapped in Wurma town, Kurfi local government area of the state.