Bandits kill 1, release 15 farmers abducted in Niger community

Bandits have shot dead one and released 15 other farmers abducted on their farms in Kache community in Lapai LGA of Niger State.

Daily Trust had reported that the bandits last week abducted 16 farmers in Kache which shares a boundary with Gurdi village in Abaji Area Council of the FCT.

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A relative of one the victims, Salihu Usman, who confirmed their release through telephone on Sunday, said one of the victims was killed by the bandits when he “attempted to escape” after untying himself.

He further said, “It was when I took the ransom to the bandits that they told me that I should tell the family of the deceased that he was killed while trying to escape.

“The 15 others were set free on Friday around 6pm after a N16m ransom, including foodstuff, recharge cards and drugs, were given to the bandits,” adding that the corpse of the killed victim was recovered and handed over to the family.

The spokesman of the Niger State Police Command, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, was yet to reply to an SMS about the development as claimed by the victims’ relatives.