40 Abductees Freed in Niger After Community’s Bold Negotiation with Bandits

Forty out of the 150 residents who were kidnapped from Kuchi community in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State have been freed by their abductors.

The hostages, mostly women and children, were released after the community provided N2 million and 12 Honda motorcycles to the bandits.

This release took place on Tuesday morning, as a result of the community’s efforts to meet the demands of the bandits. It is reported that each motorcycle cost N1.2 million. However, there are still 110 hostages remaining in captivity.

Sources suggest that the bandits have offered to release another 40 hostages if the community can provide an additional N2 million and six more motorcycles. Negotiations are currently underway between the bandits and representatives from the community.

This traumatic incident began three weeks ago when a large group of bandits attacked the Kuchi community, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including four security personnel. The bandits ransacked homes, shops, and storage areas, and took over 150 residents hostage during an assault that lasted for more than three hours, without any resistance from the security forces.

Initially, the bandits demanded N150 million for the release of all the captives. The community attempted to negotiate a payment of N100,000 per person, but the bandits rejected this offer. Eventually, they agreed to a deal involving motorcycles and cash for the release of smaller groups of hostages.