The Katsina state Police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, has confirmed that bandits abducted 39 children while working on a farm in the Faskari local government area of the state.
In a statement Wednesday morning, Isah said the children were abducted Sunday when the heavily armed bandits in their large numbers, invaded the farm where the children were working.
“Yes, the command can confirm that 39 young children were kidnapped by bandits Sunday while working on a farm in Faskari LGA. The bandits in their large numbers invaded the farm and abducted the children.
“From what we gathered, the bandits who were heavily armed, started shooting sporadically after they surrounded the farm,” Isah said.
A member of the community who did not want his identity unveiled, said the bandits have reached out to the leaders of the community and demanded for an unspecified amount as ransom.
He added that even before the children could be allowed to work on the farm, the community had paid N1miilion to the bandits as farming levy out of the N3million they had demanded.
“They demanded N3million from the owner of the farm to be able to harvest his produce. He gave them N1million as part payment and decided to begin the work before completing the money. But unfortunately, the bandits did not accept that.
“In our village, Mairuwa alone, we have 33 among the victims including young ladies who are due for marriage,” he said.
Isah said the police were doing everything possible to rescue the victims “in synergy with the state government and other security agencies.”
(Ripples Nigeria)
