Bandits have killed two retired police officers and three other people out of the over 60 individuals who were kidnapped from Adunu in the Paikoro Local Government Area and Beni in Munaya Local Government of Niger State. The execution took place on Monday evening and was carried out to warn the communities about the fate of other victims if the ransom of N100m demanded is not paid. Three women were released on Tuesday by the bandits after being raped, to take the message of the execution home.
According to Mallam Kabiru Bawa, a resident of Adunu, the victims killed were a retired police officer, Mr. Moses Tanko, aka Arada System, and another serving police officer, whose name was not known. The bandits had set a deadline of Sunday, March 26, for the ransom of N100m, which was reduced from N200m initially demanded. As the community was unable to raise the money, the bandits executed the five men.
The community was informed by the released women that the bandits were threatening to kill more of the victims. The three others who were executed were abducted from Beni community in Munya local government area of the state. The victims were abducted two weeks ago from both local government areas of the state. The Niger State Commissioner of Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, could not be reached for comment, and the state Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
