NewStats: 3,262,004 , 8,175,845 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 01:26 PM 38f2i

How bandits negotiated multi-million naira ransom for release of Zamfara monarch

Family sources said bandits refused to release the Emir of Bungudu after collecting N20 million, until they got more money.

Armed bandits collected a multi-million naira ransom before they released the Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara State, Hassan Attahiru, family sources have said.

The bandits successfully negotiated the ransom with emirate officials despite the shutdown of telecommunications in the state. The ransom included a first payment of N20 million, after which the bandits refused to release the emir until they were given more money.

The Emir of Bungudu was kidnapped on the Kaduna-Abuja highway while travelling to Abuja. The Bungudu Emirate Council on Monday announced that he had returned home, 32 days after his kidnap.

The emir was abducted two weeks before the Kaduna State government asked telecommunications firms to suspend their services in part of the state from September 30.

The measure, which was aimed at checking the activities of bandits, was also adopted by the governments of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states.

However, the absence of telecommunications services in Kaduna temporarily disrupted the negotiation and delayed the release of the emir.

Family sources told TIMES that negotiation began before the cut of telecommunications networks in parts of Kaduna State but continued afterwards until the emir was released.

The source said following the networks’ shutdown, the bandits moved to areas where they could access mobile telecommunications services and continued pressing their demands.

However, they could not connect the monarch with his loved ones and officials on phone as they usually did when they could access services from their strongholds.

“We stopped speaking with the emir on the phone after the government announced the networks’ shutdown in certain areas, until he eventually regained freedom,” one of the family who spoke to this newspaper, said.

How ransom was delivered

The sources said the bearer of the N20 million initially paid rode on a motorcycle for about three hours from Rigachikum town to the forest and trekked for another hour with the bag containing the money

“Then, communication between the ransom bearer and the bandits broke with the bandits’ phone numbers no longer accessible, so the ransom bearer returned to Kaduna with the money. However, upon his arrival in Kaduna, the bandits called and asked him to return to the forest with the money.

“When the ransom bearer moved further into the forest, he was asked to park his motorcycle at a certain place. The bandits were calling to give him direction until he delivered the ransom in a thicker forest covered by creeks,” the source said.

N20 million not enough

The source said after collecting N20 million from the ransom bearer, the kidnappers refused to release the monarch, demanding more money.

“The kidnappers had demanded a N100 million ransom. The negotiation was going on when the networks were cut in parts of Kaduna.

“The second ransom payment was also huge but I cannot ascertain the amount.

Following the intervention of Miyetti Allah and others, the bandits agreed to free the monarch. But more ransom was paid,” the source said.

“Upon his release, the emir trekked for about three hours in the forest before reaching a place where he was picked with a motorcycle and brought to where vehicles were parked waiting for his

https://www.timesng.com/news/top-news/490588-how-bandits-negotiated-multi-million-naira-ransom-for-release-of-zamfara-monarch.html

That's nothern lucrative business, so I'm outta here.

Hahahaha. I don't even know what to say, anyway let the business continue according to el rufil

Following the intervention of Miyetti Allah and others, the bandits agreed to free the monarch. But more ransom was paid,” the source said

Miyetti Allah had to intervene before the bandits could agreed to free the emir or what did I just read

Clearly, there is a web of intricacies surrounding kidnappings and banditry s with active connivance of the cattle breeders association, Miyetti Allah and the President.

So sad. The grave implication of this revelation is that the cycle of violence may not be ending soon because many sacred cows are cashing out big on the daily blood shed around the country.

Good afternoon sir how is the family

Omoh

After Politics and music, na Kidnapping be the next most lucrative job in Nigeria

I don tire to dey see bandits news so teyyy I no dey gree open any bandits-related threads again.

All will be fine someday.

The ministry is moving.
This regime has really diversified our economy.
The North have now discovered their own oil thru banditry. Boko haram was like farming to them, but the monent the regime showed them banditry (crude oil), they all ed the business

Watin Emir don do to stop bandits for him area
This are the Northerner leaders who kept quiet when this Bandits issue issue was starting

Na family matter

Anything wet no be auty tiwa sex video,e no concern me

Quite funny. The elite saw it as na our people, government should provide amnesty, this and that for them. Now, same na our people have started attacking them. May God heal the land.

Ok, following the intervention of..

Who’s the second guy? Ransom bearer?

So long its a northern affair then we don't give a Bleep, if u like kill everyone in the North, that nah unah own cup of tea

3hrs����

Even if the man follow set up him kidnapping, to trek that 3hrs, if is true.. supposed reset him stupid Sharia brain

My Viewpoint About This Kidnaping &Banditry In The North
During the time of GEJ as a president When the niger-delta militant are kidnaping the foreign that are working in oil companies in the south-south collecting foreign currency as ransome, but GEJ still grant them amnesty,put them on monthly wages and award schorlarship from FG Allocations
But Now that Bhuari Now Was doing something similar by grantin amnesty for boko-haram and be acting dumb to the attrocities of the fulani herdsmen,banditry and kidnaping in the north that it was all politacally motivated
What Is Your Take On This

A whole Emir at the mercy of Bandits.
Yet the government refuse to tag them terrorists but common criminals

Him hear nwen, nor be small

Bandits: the Nigerians that have been lifted from poverty by the Buhari government of cows.

Nice business in the north oo

I see him foregoing the throne of his forefathers and relocating to abuja

This I have seen

This story go dey boring, OP should add a little bit of Igbo into it so that we take it to page 53