Twelve police officers were reportedly abducted by terrorists in a village between Katsina and Zamfara States of northwestern Nigeria while on their way for a special operation from Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.
BBC Hausa Service reported that the family of the 12 police officers cried for their release after they spent 10 days in captivity.
The police officers, according to the family, were ambushed by the terrorists on their way and only two of the officers escaped from them.
A wife of one of the kidnapped officers told BBC Hausa that she spent about three days waiting to hear from her husband, only to learn from his colleagues that he was kidnapped.
The woman added that she later received a call from him in which he disclosed his condition to her.
“He called me on Wednesday, told me they were kidnapped and begged me to quickly hand over his house and borrow N1 million before they get into trouble,” she said.
She said she didn’t hear from him anymore but one of the police officers told her to quickly bring ransom money for the life of her husband.
“He told us to bring N800,000 each. We are trying but we become sleepless these days. We are praying for their safety,” she added.
BBC Hausa reported that it reached out to the Zamfara State Police Command but the Police Public Relations Officer said they were not aware of the kidnapping.
Families of the police officers, according to the BBC, have continued calling for the safe return of their husbands.
A wife of one of the officers also lamented that some of them have as many as five children who live in the police barracks in Borno State with no one to take care of them.
Security situation in Katsina and Zamfara states continue to worsen as cases of terror attacks rise in villages and towns.
The State Governments say they are trying their best to control the situation but it’s getting out of hands.
Aminu Bello Masari, Governor of Katsina State was reported to have claimed that over 90 per cent of the terrorists in his state are coming from Zamfara.
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