At least 17 kidnapped victims in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State remain in captivity, even after more than N300 million was reportedly paid as ransom.
A community leader, Reverend Musa Hassan Shadari, raised the alarm on Saturday, lamenting the worsening wave of kidnappings and killings in the area.
According to him, over 50 people have been killed while more than 1,000 have been abducted within just three months.
“More than 50 people have been killed and over 1,000 abducted within a three-month period,” he said.
Shadari revealed that families had to sell food supplies and farmlands to raise ransom payments, yet many victims are still being held.
He added that no fewer than 39 villages across the Kauru-West axis have been affected, forcing many residents to flee their homes.
“We are facing serious challenges from kidnappers who are driving us out of our homes and communities,” Shadari said.
The community leader also criticized the security response, alleging that operatives only show up briefly during distress calls without maintaining a lasting presence.
He called on the Kaduna State government to urgently deploy more security personnel, warning that the situation continues to devastate families and entire communities.