Terrorists in Zamfara release colonel and his children after ransom is paid

Terrorists let Col. Rabiu Garba Yandoto and his children go Tuesday after he paid them a ransom of N10 million.

Yandoto said that instead of the N5 million previously disclosed, the bandits received N10 million in a telephone interview with The Punch shortly after the release. “They collected N10 million and gathered me and my kids in Faskari town in Katsina State and told us to find our way home,” Yandoto alleged.

We were just liberated an hour ago, and as I’m speaking to you, I’m thanking God that I wasn’t slain when I was in the bandits’ camp.

READ ALSO: EFCC sells 160 confiscated homes and estates worth billions of naira

He thanked everyone who helped make his freedom possible.

Yandoto said when asked if his kidnapping had political motivations, “I can’t rule out that possibility.” I don’t want to discuss the subject too much right now.

When Yandoto was returning to his town a few days ago, bandits kidnapped him and his two children while they were travelling along the Gusau-Tsafe road.

The thieves called one of Yandoto’s relatives and wanted a N50 million ransom; the relative, who asked to remain anonymous, informed The PUNCH.

However, the relative claims that, after several talks between the family and the robbers, the amount was reduced to N5 million.