A growing number of states in Nigeria’s conflict-hit Northern region are setting up community-based vigilante patrol units to tighten security in villages where violent killings and kidnappings are rife.

Youth take up arms in Nigeria's volatile Kaduna state

Gunmen in Nigeria have kidnapped at least 87 people, including women and children in Kaduna state, residents and police said on Monday, in a fresh attack after an armed gang seized&nbsp;286 students&nbsp;and staff from a school earlier this month.

Kidnappings by criminal gangs demanding ransom payments have become an almost daily occurrence in Nigeria, especially in the north, with authorities seemingly powerless to stop them.

Kaduna police spokesperson Mansur Hassan confirmed the incident in Kajuru Station village on Sunday night but could not give a figure of those missing. He said security agents had been deployed to try to rescue the villagers.

Tanko Wada Sarkin, a village head, said 87 people were taken.

"We have so far recorded the return of five people back home who fled through the bushes. This attack makes it five times that these bandits are attacking this community," he told Reuters by phone.

Residents said armed men dressed in army uniform arrived in the village undetected because they had parked their motorbikes away from the village.

Aruwa Ya'u, another resident, said he was captured but later released by the gunmen because he struggled to walk due to poor health. He was receiving treatment at a local government clinic, he said.

Gunmen are known to force-march their victims deep into the bush, keeping them for up to months while awaiting ransom payments.

"We were outside our homes chatting around 10:30 p.m. (2130 GMT) and suddenly bandits appeared, beating and shooting," said Haruna Atiku. His wife and two daughters were among those missing.

The village is about 10 km (6 miles) from Buda community, where&nbsp;gunmen seized 61 people&nbsp;on March 12.

Kidnappings at schools in Nigeria were first carried out by jihadist group Boko Haram, who seized more than 200 students from a girls' school in Chibok in Borno state a decade ago.

&nbsp;

Gunmen in Nigeria have kidnapped at least 87 people, including women and children in Kaduna state, residents and police said on Monday, in a fresh attack after an armed gang seized 286 students and staff from a school earlier this month.

Gunmen in Nigeria have kidnapped at least 87 people, including women and children in Kaduna state, residents and police said on Monday, in a fresh attack after an armed gang seized 286 students and staff from a school earlier this month. Kidnappings by criminal gangs demanding ransom payments have become an almost daily occurrence in Nigeria, especially in the north, with authorities seemingly powerless to stop them. Kaduna police spokesperson Mansur Hassan confirmed the incident in Kajuru Station village on Sunday night but could not give a figure of those missing. He said security agents had been deployed to try to rescue the villagers. Tanko Wada Sarkin, a village head, said 87 people were taken. "We have so far recorded the return of five people back home who fled through the bushes. This attack makes it five times that these bandits are attacking this community," he told Reuters by phone. Residents said armed men dressed in army uniform arrived in the village undetected because they had parked their motorbikes away from the village. Aruwa Ya'u, another resident, said he was captured but later released by the gunmen because he struggled to walk due to poor health. He was receiving treatment at a local government clinic, he said. Gunmen are known to force-march their victims deep into the bush, keeping them for up to months while awaiting ransom payments. "We were outside our homes chatting around 10:30 p.m. (2130 GMT) and suddenly bandits appeared, beating and shooting," said Haruna Atiku. His wife and two daughters were among those missing. The village is about 10 km (6 miles) from Buda community, where gunmen seized 61 people on March 12. Kidnappings at schools in Nigeria were first carried out by jihadist group Boko Haram, who seized more than 200 students from a girls' school in Chibok in Borno state a decade ago.

Gunmen kidnap at least 87 in Nigeria’s Kaduna state

In northwest Nigeria, 15 high school students were released by bandits after their parents were forced to pay an undisclosed ransom to free them, officials said on Sunday.

The 15 students are among the 100 students who were kidnapped on July 5 from the Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna.

Kaduna state`s commissioner for internal security, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the release but declined to comment on the ransom payment.

“The students are already being released and would be handed over to their parents any moment from now,” School administrator Reverend John Hayab told Reuters.

Earlier, Hayab said the abductors were seeking 1 million naira (Rs 1.8 lakh approx) per student.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigeria-bans-twitter-indefinitely-after-muhammadu-buharis-account-suspension-389533">Also read |&nbsp;Nigeria bans Twitter 'indefinitely' after Muhammadu Buhari's account suspension</a>

In July, the kidnappers released 28 children from the school following the release of the first group of 28, two days after the raid. Around 80 had remained in captivity before Sunday’s release.

Since December, armed bandits have abducted more than 1,000 students from schools in northwest Nigeria seeking ransom. Due to high levels of threat, Kaduna state schools remain closed, reports Reuters.

President Muhammadu Buhari in February called on state governments to stop paying bandits. But desperate parents and communities often raise and pay ransoms themselves.

In northwest Nigeria, 15 high school students were released by bandits after their parents were forced to pay an undisclosed ransom to free them, officials said on Sunday.

In northwest Nigeria, 15 high school students were released by bandits after their parents were forced to pay an undisclosed ransom to free them, officials said on Sunday. The 15 students are among the 100 students who were kidnapped on July 5 from the Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna. Kaduna state`s commissioner for internal security, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the release but declined to comment on the ransom payment. “The students are already being released and would be handed over to their parents any moment from now,” School administrator Reverend John Hayab told Reuters. Earlier, Hayab said the abductors were seeking 1 million naira (Rs 1.8 lakh approx) per student. Also read | Nigeria bans Twitter 'indefinitely' after Muhammadu Buhari's account suspension In July, the kidnappers released 28 children from the school following the release of the first group of 28, two days after the raid. Around 80 had remained in captivity before Sunday’s release. Since December, armed bandits have abducted more than 1,000 students from schools in northwest Nigeria seeking ransom. Due to high levels of threat, Kaduna state schools remain closed, reports Reuters. President Muhammadu Buhari in February called on state governments to stop paying bandits. But desperate parents and communities often raise and pay ransoms themselves.

Bandits release 15 high school students after parents pay ransom in northwest Nigeria

Sierra Leone&#39;s deputy high commissioner in Nigeria has been released four days after being kidnapped in the northern state of Kaduna, officials of the two West African countries said. 
 
Major general Alfred Nelson-Williams, who was abducted on Friday while travelling from Nigeria&#39;s capital, Abuja, to Kaduna state, was freed on Tuesday at around 4 p.m. (1500 GMT). 
 
The diplomat has been reunited with his family after having &quot;regained his freedom&quot;, Nigerian police spokesman Don Awunah said in a statement, adding Williams was &quot;in good condition&quot;. Further details about the release were not disclosed. 
 
The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of 40 million naira ($141,985). Sierra Leone&#39;s minister of information, Mohamed Bangura, confirmed that the diplomat was freed on Tuesday but did not say whether or not a ransom was paid. 
 
Kidnapping for ransom is a common problem in parts of Nigeria, Africa&#39;s biggest energy producer and most populous country. 
 
(Reuters)

Sierra Leone's minister of information confirmed the diplomat was freed on Tuesday but did not say whether or not a ransom was paid

Sierra Leone's deputy high commissioner in Nigeria has been released four days after being kidnapped in the northern state of Kaduna, officials of the two West African countries said. Major general Alfred Nelson-Williams, who was abducted on Friday while travelling from Nigeria's capital, Abuja, to Kaduna state, was freed on Tuesday at around 4 p.m. (1500 GMT). The diplomat has been reunited with his family after having "regained his freedom", Nigerian police spokesman Don Awunah said in a statement, adding Williams was "in good condition". Further details about the release were not disclosed. The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of 40 million naira ($141,985). Sierra Leone's minister of information, Mohamed Bangura, confirmed that the diplomat was freed on Tuesday but did not say whether or not a ransom was paid. Kidnapping for ransom is a common problem in parts of Nigeria, Africa's biggest energy producer and most populous country. (Reuters)

Sierra Leone diplomat reunited with family four days after abduction in northern Nigeria

kaduna-state

Kaduna State, News on Kaduna State, stories on Kaduna State, articles on Kaduna State, Kaduna State stories at Wion, Kaduna State news, Kaduna State latest news

kaduna state

Youth take up arms in Nigeria's volatile Kaduna state

Gunmen kidnap at least 87 in Nigeria’s Kaduna state

Bandits release 15 high school students after parents pay ransom in northwest Nigeria

Sierra Leone diplomat reunited with family four days after abduction in northern Nigeria