Ekeomah Atuonwu
The kidnappers of the Zamfara wedding guests have demanded a ransom of N145 million ($40,000) in exchange for their release.
According to reports, the abductors demanded N5 million ($12,000) each in ransom for the release of the 29 victims held captive.
AEM had earlier reported that on Saturday evening, over 50 guests returning from a wedding in Sokoto State were kidnapped in Dogon Awo, a community between Tureta and Bakura on the Sokoto-Zamfara state border.
More than 20 of the victims eventually managed to flee, while others were rescued by security forces working with local vigilantes.
They are said to be smartphone and accessory vendors at the popular Bebeji Plaza in Gusau, the state capital of Zamfara.
According to Ashiru Zurmi, secretary of a Zamfara State association to which the victims belonged, the bandits have been contacting the union through one of the victims’ phones, demanding N145 million in ransom before they will be released.
Since the incident, Zurmi has praised the security agencies’ efforts, saying they have been doing everything possible to rescue the abducted union members.
