By Emmanuel Nduka
Armed bandits terrorising communities in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, North-Central Nigeria, have demanded for rolls of marijuana and packs of cigarettes as ransom from residents to secure the release of their kidnapped relations.
According to reports, the affected residents have been making the deliveries in their desperation to secure freedom for their loved ones.
A member of the security committee in the area told Daily Trust that the items were delivered to the hoodlums on Tuesday before some people were released.
“Your relation is in captivity, whatever you can do to secure their release, you do not hesitate to do it. There were some children that they kidnapped during one of the previous attacks on their farms. The families have taken the items they demanded to them, and some of them have been released,” the source said.
The source informed that the families also delivered to the bandits maize flour, packs of seasoning cubes and five jerrycans of petrol, as demanded.
Bandits had recently kidnapped some residents of Zazzaga, Cibani and other neighbouring communities in the LGA.