In a remarkable and almost comical twist that has set social media ablaze, residents of Runka town in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State reportedly fought fire with fire after bandits abducted eight villagers and slapped a staggering ₦100 million-per-head ransom demand.
After the gunmen grudgingly lowered their price to ₦25 million each during initial negotiations – still far beyond what the community could pay – frustrated locals allegedly organised a daring counter-operation, tracked the bandits’ hideouts, and kidnapped several of their relatives, including mothers, wives, and children, turning the tables overnight.
A viral video narrated in Hausa and now circulating widely on X captures the extraordinary standoff that followed. For three days, both sides held hostages, with neither willing to blink.
When the bandits eventually called to negotiate the release of their own family members, the villagers reportedly refused to discuss money and insisted on an immediate, unconditional swap.
Outmanoeuvred and under pressure, the armed gang capitulated: they freed all eight villagers unharmed and, in an astonishing final gesture, handed each returnee ₦30,000 as “transport fare” home before collecting their own relatives.
“We said enough is enough – they kidnap our people, we kidnap theirs,” the narrator proudly declared, adding that the audacious strategy finally forced the terrorists to back down without a single kobo in ransom paid.