Nigeria kidnappers have reportedly killed 35 hostages, even after a ransom was paid.

Kidnappers in Nigeria have brutally killed at least 35 individuals abducted from a village in northern Zamfara state, even after families paid ransoms for their release, a local official reported in Media.

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In recent years, armed groups, often referred to as bandits in the region, have resorted to kidnapping as a means of generating income. This tragic event involved the abduction of 56 residents from Banga village in the Kauran Namoda local government area back in March. The assailants demanded a ransom of one million naira (approximately $655 or £485) for each captured individual, according to reports from Nigerian media. Chairman of the local government, Manniru Haidara Kaura, stated that the majority of those killed were young people who were "slaughtered like rams." He explained, "The bandits demanded ransom money, and despite some negotiations, they received what they asked for. They subsequently released 18 individuals, including 17 women and one young boy, on Saturday." "Only the gunmen understand why they chose to kill them. They are senseless and heartless individuals who fail to recognize that they are taking the lives of their own people, and one day, we will all stand before Allah," he added.

Of those released on Saturday, 16 are currently hospitalized receiving medical treatment, while the bodies of the 38 victims killed by the bandits are unlikely to be returned, as it is rare for remains to be released in such situations. In an effort to combat the escalating and profitable kidnapping crisis, a law was enacted in 2022 making ransom payments a criminal offense, with a minimum prison sentence of 15 years. However, there have been no arrests under this law to date. Additionally, the law stipulates the death penalty for kidnappers if the victims die during the ordeal. Despite these measures, families often feel compelled to pay ransoms to rescue their loved ones, given the government's failure to ensure their safety.