Islamic jihadis burned Fr. Isaac Achi to death in January.
The taking of hostages is for money-making purposes. “As for the captives, the amir [ruler] has the choice of taking the most beneficial action of four possibilities: the first to put them to death by cutting their necks; the second, to enslave them and apply the laws of slavery regarding their sale and manumission; the third, to ransom them in exchange for goods or prisoners; and fourth, to show favor to them and pardon them. Allah, may he be exalted, says, ‘When you encounter those [infidels] who deny [the Truth=Islam] then strike [their] necks’ (Qur’an sura 47, verse 4)” — Al-Mawardi, al-Ahkam as-Sultaniyyah (The Laws of Islamic Governance).
“Suspected Terrorists Reportedly Kidnap 56 Residents In Niger Community, Demand N200 Million Ransom,” Sahara Reporters, March 29, 2023:
According to residents of the community who shared the incident on their social media pages, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N200 million in order to release the abducted residents.
Suspected terrorists have reportedly kidnapped no fewer than 56 people during a fresh attack on Adara town in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger state, north central Nigeria.
The attack occurred in the middle of March, while residents of the community and its environs were mourning the death of Rev Fr Isaac Achi, who was brutally murdered by suspected assassins in the state in January.
According to residents of the community who shared the incident on their social media pages, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N200 million in order to release the abducted residents.
In a Facebook post, Edward Simon Buju lamented how the attack has harmed the community’s socioeconomic situation, claiming that farmers in the area no longer go to their farms for fear of being attacked.
Edward went on to say that one of the abducted victims was killed by the gunmen because he refused to follow them to their new location.
His post reads: “Adunu is an Adara town in paikoro local government of Niger state a town full of love, peace and unity, has now been invaded by herdsmen who kills and kidnapped this Citizens in numbers.
“The Federal government and the government of Niger state should as a matter of urgency come to their aides to save them from this bandit who have been terrorising these community day in day out (sic).
“Early this month about 56 members of this community kidnapped by bandits that invaded the community numbering about 200 in numbers. Just this morning I got a shocking news that my friend who was also kidnapped by name Arada system was kill, because the bandits wanted to change their location and he complained that he has serious wound that won’t let him to Trek for a long distance, these heartless bandits shot him dead and send some women to inform the community.
“The kidnappers were asking for 200 millions for the people of about fifty something and where on earth will this money come from, this farmers don’t longer go to there [sic] farms.
“Pls I am calling on Foriegn NGO to come to the aides of this community to save them from hungry, and many other social amenities that they also need. Adunu a town bleeding No.”
Another social media user, identified as Jdpc Minna who claimed to be privy to the incident equally explained in detail how the attack occurred.
According to him, the terrorists stormed Adara town and its environs during the day while residents were conducting mass to mourn the death of Rev Fr Isaac Achi.
He continued: “While this Mass was going on, over 300 bandits surrounded the Adunu and Kwagana villages, less than 15 kilometers away from Kaffin-koro, abducting over 100 persons, destroying homes and looting shops in an uninterrupted operation that lasted over five (5) hours. They equally attacked Nanati, Beni, and Abolo communities among others.
“Hundreds were abducted in the process; scores were injured; couples abducted with recklessness. One of the nursing mothers (name withheld) had her infant thrown off her back and the mother kidnapped.
“Many others went through terrible, untold experiences. A health practitioner, Mr Joshua Galadima Bitrus, was shot dead by the bandits on the same day around Kwagana….
