In a welcome development, fourteen residents who were abducted in the communities of Kubuwo and Kaguni in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been released after spending 67 days in captivity.

The victims were initially abducted by bandits who invaded the two communities, leading to a distressing period of captivity marked by sporadic shooting in the area.

Shehu Bala, a member of one of the victims’ families, confirmed the release on Thursday, stating that the freed victims were rescued from a forest located at the boundaries of Kachia and Kagarko LGAs in Kaduna.

The release came after an undisclosed ransom, along with various items such as foodstuffs, wines, cartons of cigarettes, drugs, Indian hemp, and recharge cards, was provided to the bandits.

Tragically, a teenage boy among the victims passed away at the bandits’ den due to an illness.

While expressing relief at the release of the victims, Bala noted that they are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital. The Madaki of Kudiri village, Malami Wakili Iliya, also confirmed the victims’ release, mentioning that they hailed from the villages of Kubuwo and Kaguni.

However, Iliya added that 19 other victims abducted from his village, Kudiri, are still being held captive. Despite continuous communication between the families and the abductors through a telephone, the bandits are reportedly demanding two motorcycles before releasing the remaining victims.