Bandits have killed a woman identified as Mrs. Lilian John, after reportedly collecting a N20m ransom and five motorcycles from her family.

It was gathered that the woman was kidnapped in Niger State on March 14, 2023, and had been in captivity since then until the bandits killed her over the weekend.

Meanwhile, friends and family members have taken to Facebook to mourn her.

“So, my uncle’s wife was killed by bandits. God where are you, after collecting ransom of 20 million and five motorcycles. Each one is 850,000. They still killed her,” one Jacob Jusuf said.

Gloria Markus wrote:

“What a wicked world we are in , you were held captive by bandits since 14th March and we kept praying for your safe release especially we the members of zumunta Mata katolika Minna diocese, just to hear that you were shot dead yesterday by the bandits. Mrs Lilian John may your gentle soul continue to rest with the Lord. Amen.”

The bandits who kidnapped children and grandchildren of the Emir of Kagarko in Kaduna State, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, have threatened to abduct the monarch if he fails to raise N150m ransom demanded for the abductees.

Recall that bandits on May 8, 2023, invaded the emir’s private house and whisked away three of his daughters and five grandchildren.

But one of the grandchildren, Yusuf Sa’ad, escaped. However, after the abductors discovered he knew some of them, they traced and killed him.

A source told Daily Trust that the leader of the bandits contacted the family and demanded N150m ransom as condition to release the victims.

“Since they abducted the emir’s daughters and grandchildren, they called up to five times but didn’t talk about ransom until last Thursday when their leader demanded N150m,” the source said.

He further said that the emir had since the incident stood his ground that he has no money to pay for ransom; a situation which he said angered the bandits’ leader who threatened to come after the emir if the family failed to raise the N150m.

The source added that troops and vigilantes had since the incident been combing forests to trace the bandits in order to rescue the victims.

The emirate’s Secretary, Yahaya Ibrahim, could not be reached for comment as his phone was not connected as at the time of filing this report.

The parish priest of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church in Kafin-koro in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, Rev Father Isaac Achi, has been burnt to death by armed bandits.

It was gathered that the bandits who invaded his residence at 3 am on Sunday, January 15, 2023, also injured his colleague identified as Father Collins.

The terrorists were said to have attempted to gain entrance into the catholic parish house and in the course of having difficulty in gaining entrance set the parish house ablaze, and waited until it burnt to ashes with him in it. Father Collins was shot on the shoulder while trying to escape from the scene.

Spokesperson of the Niger Police Command, DSP Abiodun Wasiu, who confirmed the incident, said effort is ongoing to apprehend the assailants.

“On 15/01/2023 at about 0300hrs, armed bandits invaded the Parish residence of one Rev. Father Isaac Achi of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church, along Daza road, Kafin-Koro, Paikoro LGA,” the statement read.

“Unfortunately, the bandits reportedly attempted to gain entrance into the residence, but seemed difficult and set the house ablaze, while the said Rev. Father was burnt dead.

“A colleague of the Rev. Father identified as Father Collins was equally shot in the shoulder while trying to escape from the scene. Police tactical teams attached to Kafin-Koro Div were immediately drafted to the scene, but the hoodlums had escaped before the arrival of the teams.

“The lifeless body of Father Isaac was recovered while Father Collins was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Ogundele Ayodeji had dispatched a reinforcement team to the area and effort is ongoing to apprehend the assailants as investigation into the unfortunate attack has commenced.”

Suspected bandits have allegedly killed a Nigerian military officer identified as Nathaniel Dem Danjuma Dawa.

Details of the incident are still sketchy at the time of filing this report, but a Facebook user, Emmanuel Zakka, who confirmed it on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, said the officer was killed on his way to Abuja.

Scores of residents were killed while many others fled to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps after bandits raided 40 villages and towns in Kebbi State.

Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Mu’azu Dakingari, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

Dangari said Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu paid a visit to the IDPs camps in Government Day Secondary School, Mahuta and Model Primary School, Isgogo, in Zuru Emirate on Thursday, to sympathize with the victims.

“Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, this Thursday, visited IDPs’ camps in Mahuta, headquarters of Fakai Local Government and Isgogo in Zuru Emirate to sympathize and condole with the families of persons killed by bandits who attacked more than forty towns and villages along the border of Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states,” the statement read.

“The Governor, in company of General Muhammadu Magoro and Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, expressed deep sympathy and concern on the tragedy, advising families of the victims to rekindle their faith in Allah as the custodian of mercy and recourse.”

He pledged that his administration would reach out to the affected persons appropriately, especially to resettle them in their various towns and villages soonest.

“Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu directed the relevant authorities to provide food items, drugs and other essential items to the IDPs”, he said.

Dakingari said that the Governor had ordered the immediate abolished of School fees and PTA levies in order to give room for children of IDPs to attend schools.

The CPS said the affected villages and towns include Ba’are, Iri, Barbaro, Mai Kende, Tungar Gambo, Usheri, Garin Hausawa, Ahuri, Doro, Babban Rafi, Jonga, Hulu, Sago, Adaga and Agwala.

The rest are, according to him, are Masama, Gulori, Arewa, Gurguza, Sabla, Mai Danga, Ucheri, Sangi, Tungar Dutse, Maidaji, Maidaji Gari, Chasgu, Golo Ingarde, Lonka, Ambu, Adaka, Saminaka and Sabon Birni all located in Fakai and Zuru Local Government areas.

Other displaced villages in Zuru are Badi, Kwalo, Rafin Gora I, Muhaye, Isgen, Ganuwa, Rafin Gora II, Ulasa, Dago, Bachuchu, Rafin Gora III, Uli Zamfara.