9 Zaria LG staff released after N40m ransom

From Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, Zaria 

Nine of the 11 staff of Zaria Local Government Council in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State abducted by bandits 19 days ago have been released.

The nine female victims secured freedom after the payment of N40 million as ransom. 

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Family sources said the bandits were demanding two brand new motorcycles in exchange for the release of the remaining two male abductees still in captivity. 

Speaking with our correspondent, a relative of one of the victims that were freed said the bandits had earlier demanded for the money together with two brand new motorcycles.

But the source said the bandits released the women and kept the men, demanding the delivery of the motorcycles.

Daily Trust reports that 11 staff of the council were abducted early November in Idasu village, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, while on their way to condole with one of their colleagues who lost his father.

Due to the telecommunication shutdown in the axis, the bandits released the driver of the vehicle so that he could inform families of the passengers about the abduction.

As of Saturday evening, our correspondent gathered that the nine female victims who had been taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical checks were yet to be united with their families.