Tobias Sylvester
Heavily armed bandits affiliated to the Abubakar Shekau’s faction of Boko Haram, Jama’atu Ahlussunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, have released a picture and video showing about 21 passengers abducted in Niger State.
The abduction occurred on Sunday evening when the bandits waited in ambush as the public transport vehicle ran into the blockade in Kundu village, near Zungeru in Yakila District of Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
Officials of the drivers union in the area said the victims were travelling in a bus of the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA) when they ran into an ambush by the bandits.
In a video clip released on Tuesday, the bandits were seen wielding several rocket-propelled grenades (RGPs) while threatening the passengers who were begging the Nigerian government “to do something” about their release.
“God is the greatest, all praise is due to God alone,” a member of the banditry group said in the video which shows the fully armed fighters speaking in Arabic, Hausa and Kanuri.
Watch the videos below:
Terrorists who abducted 21 persons in Niger state released a video threatening captives and state authority. Over 500 are captives of #BokoHaram in northeast. In the northwest/central, families are raising millions for ransom to free hundreds of their relatives. THIS IS ANARCHY. pic.twitter.com/AgHloswa33
— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) February 17, 2021
This is the situation of the 21 kidnapped passengers of an NSTA Bus that have been kidnapped in Yakila Village of Niger state, let's tag the government/relevant authorities please, they need help. pic.twitter.com/spULpcNji3
— F A A R E E S 💫 🇵🇸 (@MFaarees_) February 16, 2021
Bandits with RPG when a group carries weapons that are used by military, they are nothing but terrorists.
Buhari Nigeria Herdsmen pic.twitter.com/bSG9vZPUMZ— Gaslarry (@Gaslarry1) February 17, 2021
Meanwhile, some armed bandits dressed in military uniforms have reportedly attacked and abducted many students of Government Science College (GSC) Kagara, in Niger State.
It was learnt that some teachers and their family members residing within the college staff quarters were also abducted by the gunmen on Wednesday morning.
