A local official told the BBC that Nigerian kidnappers killed at least 35 people kidnapped from a village in northern Zamfara state.
In recent years, criminal gangs in the region have been known as bandits and have used kidnapping as a means of raising funds.
In this incident, 56 people were taken away from Banga Village in the Kauran Namoda Local Government Area in March. Nigerian media reported that the gunman demanded a ransom of Naira ($655; £485).
Local government chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura said most of the people killed were young people who were “slaughtered like rams”.
Haidara added: “What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom, and after some back and forth money, they got their request. Then, they released 18 people on Saturday, including 17 women and a little boy.”
“Only them [the gunmen] Know why they killed them. They are meaningless, ruthless people. They forgot that they were killing their brothers and we all meet in front of Ara. ”
Sixteen of the people released on Saturday were hospitalized for treatment, while 38 bodies killed by the gangsters were unlikely to be returned, as bodies were rarely released in these cases.
To curb the spiral and profitable kidnapping industry, a law was enacted in 2022 that makes ransom payments criminal. It was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison, but no one was arrested on the charges.
In the case of the victim’s death, this also causes death kidnapping.
However, families often feel forced to pay to save their loved ones, citing that the government cannot ensure their safety.
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