Bandits Kill 33 Hostages in Zamfara Despite ₦50 Million Ransom Payment

Story written by Rita Uzuh

Zamfara State, Nigeria – July 28, 2025 – At least 33 kidnapped victims have been brutally murdered by armed bandits in Banga town, located in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, despite a ₦50 million ransom reportedly paid by families to secure their release.

According to reports from TheCable, the attack was orchestrated by a notorious bandit leader known as Dan Sadiya, who allegedly abducted over 50 residents from the community in a single raid. Survivors and grieving families confirmed that although the ransom was delivered, only 17 hostages—mostly women and children—were released.

The remaining captives, primarily men, were executed in batches over several days, leaving the community devastated and outraged.

“He kills even after collecting ransom. If payment is delayed, he executes the hostages without hesitation,” a resident told reporters.

“In Banga alone, he kidnapped more than 50 people and killed 33. Only 17 made it back alive,” said another source.

Families say they sold off their properties to raise the ransom, but it was not enough to save all the captives. Yusuf Muhammad, who lost his son in the massacre, described the ordeal:
“We sold everything we had to meet their demands. After nearly two months, we were told he had killed all the men. Only the women returned.”

Many villagers have drawn comparisons between Dan Sadiya and other infamous bandit leaders in the northwest, including Turji, stating that Dan Sadiya is far more ruthless.
“What we are experiencing now is worse than Turji. At least Turji has some code; Dan Sadiya kills without mercy,” said Muhammad.

In a separate but equally horrific attack in Yamutsawa, another village within Kaura Namoda LGA, the same gang reportedly kidnapped 40 people, killed nearly half of them, and sent back a decapitated head as a chilling warning to the community.

Despite a visible military presence in the area, residents say the bandits continue to operate with impunity.
“Even with soldiers here, the killings haven’t stopped. Just last night, we couldn’t sleep out of fear,” said Aisha Isa Kaura, who lost her husband in the incident.

Some locals have expressed more confidence in the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), stating that the vigilante group provides better protection than government forces.
“Whenever the CJTF patrols, we feel safer. They fight back, unlike the soldiers who just stay at their posts,” said Ahmed Sani, a resident of Banga.

As the death toll rises and insecurity deepens in Zamfara, calls are growing louder for the federal government to overhaul its security strategy in Nigeria’s northwest, where banditry continues to claim innocent lives with little accountability.