By Sunday Ameh
Families of 176 residents abducted by suspected terrorists in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have appealed to the Federal Government and the Kwara State Government to intensify efforts to rescue their loved ones, nearly six months after they were kidnapped.
The families alleged that the abductors rejected over N155 million raised as ransom by the affected communities and threatened to force female captives they considered attractive into marriage while killing the remaining hostages.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa monitored on Thursday, a Kaiama indigene, Abdul Ibrahim, said residents had exhausted all available options to secure the victims’ release without success.
According to him, the communities mobilised more than N155 million through contributions to meet the kidnappers’ demand, but the offer was allegedly rejected.
He said the prolonged captivity had subjected both the abductees and their families to severe hardship, with many relatives living in fear and uncertainty.
“We have done everything within our means. We raised the money they demanded, yet our people are still being held. Their suffering continues, and families are in deep agony,” Ibrahim said.
He added that peaceful protests organised by residents to draw the attention of authorities had failed to yield results.
Also speaking, the Dan Sardaukin Kaiama, Suleiman Bukata, urged the Federal Government and security agencies to replicate the operation that recently secured the release of kidnapped victims in Oyo State by extending similar efforts to Kaiama.
Bukata said the successful rescue operation in Oyo had given families renewed hope, stressing that residents of Kaiama deserved the same level of commitment from the authorities.
Leave a Reply