After spending 66 days in captivity, six out of the 28 persons abducted from some communities in the Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State have regained their freedom.
They have been reportedly released after one of the victims paid N2.5 million as ransom to the bandits.
A local source told reporters that one of the victims, Hussaina Tukur, and her child secured their freedom after the payment of N2.5 million cash as ransom which excited the bandits, and made them add four other persons as Eid-el-Kabir gift to the people of Batsari.
As a result of the release of the six persons who are made up of three females and three males, 22 victims are still in the captivity of the bandits.
It was gathered that the victims released are Hussaina Umar, Al-Ameen Umar, and Marwanatu Bello. Others include Zainab Bello, Muhammad Bello, and Yakubu Bello.
Recounting their ordeals while in captivity, one of the victims stated that they suffered a lot at the hands of their abductors, who kept them with little or no food for some days including other forms of molestations.
Another victim also revealed that one of the ladies amongst the abductees lost her child while being tortured.
The incident according to the source, occurred about two months ago when the bandits in their numbers and usual mode of operation attacked several settlements in Batsari LGA, where one person was killed and the 28 people abducted along with dozens of cows, sheep, and goats.
As of the time of filing this report, the police in the state are yet to issue any official statement regarding the incident.
They had earlier last week repelled another attack on the same Batsari where they rescued eight victims after a gun duel with the bandits who escaped into the forest with three others.