Niger communities in tears as bandits return bodies of

•Captors threaten to kill remaining hostages over ransom

From John Adams, Minna

Tears, sorrow and despair have enveloped communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State following the recovery of the decomposing bodies of 25 villagers allegedly killed by bandits after weeks in captivity.

The victims were among hundreds of men, women and children abducted by the bandits during an August 21 attack on several communities in the area.

The horror deepened on Monday when the bandits reportedly contacted the affected communities and directed residents to go into the bush to identify and retrieve the bodies of their loved ones.

Residents of Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida, Gidan-Zana and other affected communities subsequently ventured into the area and recovered no fewer than 25 bodies, which were given a mass burial in a nearby bush.

A community source told Daily Sun that the victims had allegedly been killed and their bodies abandoned to decompose before the abductors instructed their relatives to retrieve them.

The source further said the bandits threatened to kill other captives still in their custody if their ransom demands were not met.

The development has plunged the affected communities into mourning while heightening anxiety among families whose relatives remain in captivity.

Some of those abducted during the August 21 attack were women and children, including infants.

A resident of one of the affected communities, who spoke to Daily Sun on condition of anonymity, said the people were devastated by the killings and increasingly fearful about the fate of those still being held.

He said the abductors initially demanded N10 million for each captive before reducing the ransom to N5 million per person, an amount he said the predominantly farming and petty-trading communities could not afford.

“They asked each family to bring N10 million for each captive. Later, they reduced it to N5 million, but there is no way that we can afford it,” he said.

According to him, the recovery of the bodies had further compounded the fear and trauma of families who had spent weeks uncertain about the fate of their loved ones.

“We don’t know what will happen to the rest of the people that are still being held,” he said.

The latest development came despite assurances by security authorities that efforts were being intensified to rescue those abducted in the Borgu communities.

During a visit to Niger State about two weeks ago, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, said the police, working with other security agencies, were intensifying efforts to secure the release of the captives.

The police also deployed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, AIG Victor Olaiya, alongside tactical personnel to support rescue operations in the state.

However, almost a month after the mass abduction, many families are still awaiting the return of their loved ones, with Monday’s recovery of 25 decomposing bodies deepening fears over the fate of those remaining in captivity.

Chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, Nasir Mohammed, described the killings as heartbreaking, inhuman and wicked.

“This is inhumane and wicked. I lack words to describe this horrifying incident. The entire people of Borgu Kingdom are devastated by the killing of these innocent people,” Mohammed said.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Niger State Police Command nor the state government had issued a statement on the reported recovery and mass burial of the 25 bodies.