The 29 people who were abducted by gunmen while returning to Zamfara State from Sokoto State, where they had gone to attend a wedding of their colleague, have been released.
It was gathered that the victims were released after an unspecified amount of ransom was paid to the abductors.
The victims, who were mostly dealers of mobile phones and phone accessories at Bebeji Communication Market (Bebeji Plaza) in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, were abducted in Sokoto 13 days ago.
The Secretary of the GSM Dealers Association in the state, Ashiru Zurmi, confirmed the release of the victims but did not give details. One of the victims reportedly died in captivity.
However, Abdullahi Lawal, whose brother was among those abducted, said their relatives were asked to make donations.
He said his family raised N33,000 while the phone sellers’ association “provided the remaining money.”
“Every family was told to gather N400,000 while the members of the plaza and their colleagues in the state provided the remaining money. Some family members were able to raise the money in full, but we couldn’t. I took the money to the plaza and I was told that they were still negotiating with the bandits” he said.
