Bandits behead kidnap victim in Niger State, send head to community leader over N50m levy

Suspected bandits have reportedly beheaded one of more than 100 people abducted during an overnight attack on Shadadi and neighbouring communities in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

The terrorists, who invaded the communities on Friday, also imposed a N50 million levy on residents before allowing them access their farms for the ongoing farming season.

The victim, identified as Abdullahi Garba, was said to have been k!lled after his relatives failed to meet the ransom demanded by the bandits.

According to a source, the kidnappers initially demanded 10 jerry cans of 50 litres of petrol as ransom for the victim, but his relatives could only provide six, which the bandits rejected.

They subsequently increased the ransom by demanding an additional two cartons of engine oil.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that when the relatives eventually returned with the items, the bandits did not release the victim.

Instead, they handed over his severed head, wrapped in a polythene bag, to the relatives.

They reportedly instructed the relatives to take the severed head to the village head of Shadadi, Ya’u Guskum, and provided a telephone number through which the traditional ruler could contact them.

They also threatened to behead more of the abducted residents if the N50 million levy imposed on the communities was not paid.

Confirming the development, Guskum said one of the abducted persons was beheaded and his severed head sent to him.

“Those who took the ransom only returned with the severed head of the victim. They instructed them to bring it to me, promising to behead more people in their custody if we failed to pay the N50 million levy imposed on us.”