Six hostages are exchanged by the bandits for rice and beans.

As payment for their release, the bandits in Kaduna State's Birnin-Gwari area demanded 20 mudu (measures) of rice, 20 mudu of beans, 25 liters of red oil, 25 liters of groundnut oil, and a recharge card worth N10,000.

In the settlements of Jangali and Kwaga in Birnin-Gwari, the bandits had killed one farmer and kidnapped 20 others from their farms.

Ishaq Usman Kasai, the chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), confirmed that the hostages were freed yesterday, September 29. He also claimed that the bandits had instructed some farming communities to pay 12 million in levies before they could harvest their crops.

Kasai said:

The four people of Unguwan Liman who were kidnapped on Saturday and one at Unguwan Shekarau were released yesterday Wednesday after payment of 2 million and N500,000, respectively.

“Five farmers kidnapped on Thursday 15/9/2022 at Kurgin Gabas and Sabon-Layi areas have luckily escaped from the kidnappers’ den after spending a week in captivity.

“Regrettably, a farmer was killed at Shiwaka community on Tuesday 27/9/2022 after being tied to a tree; and more than 20 people were kidnapped on Wednesday 28/9/2022.

“The bandits informed some farming communities including Kwaga, Kwanan-Shehu, Unguwan Liman and Unguwan Shekarau to pay levies of N12 million to be allowed to continue harvesting their crops. These communities were given until Friday (today) to meet the conditions, failing which they would kidnap any person found at a farm. The Union found that these helpless communities have started making contribution based on farm size to meet the condition and the dateline