UK demands immediate action as kidnappers execute 38 abductees in Zamfara

The UK government has strongly condemned the execution of 38 abducted residents in Banga village, Zamfara State, despite ransom payment.

Declaring the killing as “an unspeakable crime” that harms mental and physical health and impedes national economic growth”, Gill Lever, the Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, called for immediate action to prevent such bloodshed.

Speaking during a briefing under the State Expansion Programme for the Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, a collaborative security project between the UK government and Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Lever expressed sympathies to the victims’ families and the people of Zamfara State.

“It damages people’s mental and physical well‑being, retards economic progress, and we must bring an end to this”, she added.

The victims were abducted in March from Banga village in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area.

A resident of the village, Ibrahim Banga, explained that the kidnappers had demanded N1 million per hostage, and after several weeks of efforts, the community managed to raise and deliver the sum.

Banga, who confirmed that only 18 of the captives were eventually released, said, “Upon their return, the freed victims recounted how the bandits had slaughtered the remaining 35 abductees, killing them one after the other during their captivity.”

According to the LGA chairman, Mannir Haidara Kaura, 56 persons were reportedly abducted from the village.

“From the information I got as the Chairman of the local government, 56 were abducted by the bandits and only 18 returned. We took the remaining 18 people to the hospital, and they are on medication. We are also preparing to go with the state government to go and see the families of those who lost their lives”, he said.

Kaura said most of those killed were young people who “were slaughtered like rams”.

“What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for. They then released 18 people, including 17 women and one young boy, on Saturday. Only the gunmen know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah”, Haidara added.

Residents said three pregnant women who were among the hostages gave birth while in captivity, but all the newborns died due to a lack of care.

In a statement, the Zamfara government described the killings as barbaric and cowardly.

“To the grieving families, we share your sorrow and pray for strength and healing. To the good people of Zamfara, remain united and vigilant. Report suspicious activities, and together, we will defeat evil”, it said, adding that the killers would be brought to justice.