A man simply Identified as Bishir has narrated how soldiers extorted N12,000 from him after escaping from bandits’ den in Katsina.

Bishir, in a widely shared video on Twitter, said the soldiers demanded N12,000 from him after he was brought from Runka to Sanfana.

“I overheard the soldiers saying they would not release me to my relatives until I paid the sum of N12,000,” he said.

READ ALSO: Soldiers Shave Residents’ Heads, Flog Traders in Rivers Community

He said he declined their demand, but one of his brothers gave them the money.

Jamil Mabai, a freelance journalist who shared the video, said Bishir told him in an interview that at the time he escaped, “There was no presence of any security personnel.” 

RECENT CASES OF KIDNAPPING IN KATSINA

On September 6, 2021, Channels TV reported that four children belonging to Alhaji Hamza Umar, the village head of Sabuwar Kasa in Kastina, were kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be bandits.

The incident happened less than 24 hours after gunmen kidnapped the younger sister of the Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki.

READ ALSO: Bandits Use Walkie Talkies to Bypass Telecom Shutdown in Katsina

Also, on September 4, 2021, gunmen kidnapped the wife and children of Dr. Ibrahim Kurami, member representing Bakori constituency at the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

On August 19, 2021, Premium Times reported that bandits kidnapped nine Islamiyya students along with their teacher.

The students and their teacher were kidnapped in Sakkai village, in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State,

Faskari is one of the Katsina local councils prone to bandit attacks, FIJ findings revealed.

Other troubled LGAs are Batsari, Jibia, Danmusa, Safana, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa and Dandume.