The bandits who kidnapped nine residents of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State on Wednesday are demanding N180million ransom from their victims’ relatives.
The latest incident, the third in week in the state led to a protest by Chikun youths.
The bandits, who stormed Ungwan-Gimbiya in Chikun local government around 10.30 pm, broke into homes and lined up 15 residents for movement to their hideout.
They later freed six of them, two nursing mothers, three elderly women, and one hypertensive patient.
The bandits were said to have left with the remaining nine persons, including a Pharmacist, a landlord and his two sons.
It was also gathered that the bandits drilled holes on the fences and walls of their victims’ houses before pulling down the doors of their apartments.
A source in Chikun, who asked not to be named, said the elderly women were freed after one of them fainted.
One of the freed nursing mothers said her husband is one of the nine in the bandit’s custody.
She said, “I was in our sitting room when around past 10 pm, some people entered with knives. They wanted to stab me. I followed them outside only to see that they tied my husband and two boys.
“They allowed me to go back and carry my crying baby. They threatened to kill us. But they left me and some elderly women.
The second nursing mother whose husband is the abducted pharmacist, said: “They came shooting and breaking our windows after they successfully broke the fence. They took me and my husband out but I was let go when my baby started crying.”
A Lawyer, who narrowly escaped being kidnapped said: “I discovered at about 11:20 pm on Wednesday that there was an attack on our community. I was hearing gunshots and shaking of our gate but the bandits.
“They broke the wall and entered our compound, broke our burglary but my wife and I hid in our bedroom. They tried opening the bedroom door but couldn’t.
“But they took my neighbour , Mr. Samson, away. The bandits spoke Fulani and Hausa Languages.”
