Kwara Kidnappers Reject N155m Ransom, Threaten To Marry Female Captives, Kill Others

Suspected kidnappers holding at least 176 victims in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have allegedly rejected a N155 million ransom raised by their families and threatened to forcibly marry some of the female captives while killing other hostages if their demands are not met.

The victims, who were abducted nearly six months ago, remain in captivity despite efforts by their families and communities to secure their freedom, prompting renewed appeals to the federal government, the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify rescue operations.

Speaking in an interview monitored on the BBC Hausa Service, a Kaiama indigene, Abdul Ibrahim, said members of the affected communities contributed more than N155 million in a desperate bid to secure the release of the abductees, but the kidnappers allegedly refused to accept the money.

According to him, the abductors warned that they would force the “beautiful” female captives into marriage and execute the remaining hostages if their demands were not met.

“We have done everything within our means. The money was raised, yet our people have not been released. Their suffering continues, and families are living in agony,” Ibrahim said.

He appealed to the federal government, the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, lamenting that the affected families had exhausted every available option.

Ibrahim added that peaceful protests organised by residents to draw attention to the plight of the captives had failed to attract the desired intervention from the authorities.

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 abductees in Oyo State by extending similar rescue efforts to Kaiama.

Bukata said the successful rescue of the Oyo victims had rekindled hope among families in Kaiama, stressing that residents deserved the same level of commitment from the government.

He warned that every additional day the victims remained in captivity increased the danger to their lives and exposed them to greater hardship.

Meanwhile, Senator Adamu Aliero expressed concern over the worsening insecurity across northern Nigeria but argued that inadequate funding was not responsible for the persistent wave of terrorist attacks.

According to the senator, the National Assembly has consistently approved budgetary requests from security agencies to support counter-terrorism operations.

Aliero maintained that the persistence of terrorism reflected the complexity of the security challenge rather than a lack of financial resources.

He, however, reiterated his support for the establishment of state police, insisting that governors should be constitutionally empowered and adequately equipped to establish local policing structures capable of responding swiftly to security threats in their respective states.