Bandits holding 16 residents of Gonin Gora area of Kaduna metropolis have demanded the payment of a N40 trillion ransom.
It is the highest yet by kidnappers for victims in a country ravaged by regular abductions.
John Yusuf, a community leader of the area, disclosed the ransom demand in a telephone interview on Monday in Kaduna.
According to Yusuf, the bandits called and demanded N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans and 150 brand new motorcycles for the release of the victims.
He told Politics Nigeria: “The bandits have contacted us. They are demanding for N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans and 150 motorcycles for the release of 16 people they are holding captive.
“Where are we going to get this kind of money? Even if we sell the entire community, we cannot raise N40 trillion. Even Nigeria as a country has never made a budget of N40 trillion.”
The community leader said, the bandits invaded the community two times within a week.
“The abductions happened twice within four days interval,” he said. “During the first attack three people were kidnapped while in the second attack 13 people were abducted bringing the total number of people being held captive to 16.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aid by establishing a military base behind our community where the bandits take advantage of the forests to invade our community.
“From our community down to Birnin Gwari which is over 150 kilometres is a stretch of forest.
“We also have another stretch of bushes from Gonin Gora down to Niger state.
“So when the criminals have free access through the bushes to our community. We are pleading with government to help us”, the community leaders pleaded.
He, however, praised the Nigerian Army’s efforts towards containing the bandits.
He said, “The army are really trying, despite the fact that they are seriously overstretched. Whenever we make distressed calls they come.
“But the problem is that before they reach the community, the bandits would have done what they wanted and left”.
The community leaders further called on the federal and state governments to take proactive action to stop the menace, “if not it is going to consume all of us.”
On Wednesday, February 28, bandits invaded Anguwan Auta, community in Gonin Gora, killed two people and abducted three others.
About four days after, the criminals were said to have returned to the area and abducted 13 people.
Hundreds of youths in the area, had protested against the first attack, blocking the busy Kaduna – Abuja highway which passes through Gonin Gora.
