Forty-three worshippers abducted last Friday from a central mosque in Zugu community of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have reportedly been released.
It was gathered that the abductors had earlier subjected the captives to hard labour on their farmlands but later accepted to collect N5 million for their release after days of intense negotiations.
“One of the captives has died in the hands of the captors. The abducted worshippers were kept at a hill between a community known as Marina and an expansive dreaded forest called Barikin Daji in Gummi Local Government Area of the state,” a source said.
“They were subjected to physical labour without rest or food. The captives are looking haggard and fatigued. Some of them can’t sit, stand or talk,” the source added.
It was learnt that after payment of ransom, the hoodlums asked the relatives of the abducted worshippers to pick the victims at Barikin Daji forest.
A resident, who craved anonymity, said, “The community, thereafter, mobilized and dispatched several motorbike riders to the forest and they were taken out of the bush in batches because of their large number.
“They were ferried to the side of Daki Takwas-Zuru highway where they were picked by the waiting vehicles to their community.”
