Bandits who abducted residents of Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State have demanded N1bn ransom for their release.
The victims were kidnapped on Easter Sunday during an ആക്രമ in the community, which also left several residents dead and plunged the area into grief.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Chairman and Secretary of Concerned Ariko Youths, Linus Audu and Kefas Likita, described the incident as a brutal assault on innocent residents during a period of religious observance.
The group said the abductees include vulnerable persons such as elderly men, women and children, many of whom were affected directly by the violence.
According to the statement, among those taken are two elderly blind men, widows whose husbands were killed in the attack, their children, as well as other minors and critically ill women.
The youths warned that the incident has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the community, leaving families traumatised and uncertain about the fate of their loved ones.
They described the N1bn ransom demand as excessive and beyond the capacity of the largely rural community, noting that it was unrealistic to expect victims already grappling with loss and hardship to raise such an amount.
The group added that the attack reflects a recurring pattern of insecurity in Southern Kaduna, where communities have continued to face kidnappings and killings by armed groups.
It noted that residents are often compelled to rely on communal contributions to secure the release of abducted relatives amid worsening economic conditions.
The group called on the Kachia Local Government authorities to work closely with security agencies and provide urgent support to affected families.
It also appealed to the Kaduna State Government to strengthen security measures to facilitate the rescue of the victims, while urging the Federal Government to intensify efforts to curb banditry nationwide.
The group further called for swift and decisive action to secure the unconditional release of the abductees and bring those responsible to justice.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to officially comment on the incident.
