Suspected bandits have kidnapped a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) along Tangaza-Balle road in Sokoto state, Daily Trust reports.
The incident reportedly happened Thursday.
The bandits were said to have called his relatives and demanded for N50 million ransom for his release but Daily Trust learnt it was later reduced to N10 million.
However, it was also learnt that negotiation for his release was still ongoing between his family and the bandits.
The officer (name withheld), attached to Balle, the headquarters of Gudu local government area was said to have been on his way to Tangaza when the incident happened.
A resident of the area told Daily Trust that the bandits blocked their way around 2:30pm yesterday and asked the passengers in their vehicle to come out for a search.
“When they searched his pocket and saw his identity card they asked the driver of the vehicle and the other passengers to go that they have gotten somebody who can fetch them more money,” our source said.
The source who pleaded for anonymity however, appealed to the state government to deploy more security operatives to the area as the bandits moved their operation to Tangaza axis because of the current onslaught in Zamfara and Isa axis by the military.
“They are now kidnapping villagers around Tangaza local government area. We have so far secured the release of three victims after paying N2.5 million,” he said.
He added: “Our people are now afraid to sleep at homes because of the prevailing security situation in the area which we have reported to the relevant authorities but nothing was seemed to have been done.”
The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in Sokoto state, Hamza Adamu Illela, confirmed the abduction but declined further comment.
