Nigeria gunmen demand 17 motorcycles as ransom for church hostages

Gunmen who abducted more than 150 church worshippers in Nigeria’s conflict-hit northwest are demanding 17 motorcycles as ransom from families of the hostages, residents told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The attacks took place on Sunday when the gunmen raided three different churches in Kajuru council area in Kaduna state, seizing 177 people before 11 managed to escape, AP reported.

Nigerian security forces have deployed tactical teams in search of the kidnappers, who are believed to be among rogue gangs that often carry out kidnappings for ransoms in remote communities with limited state and security presence, according to the report.

In interviews on Thursday, residents said the attackers contacted families of the hostages demanding 17 motorcycles to begin negotiations for their release. The motorcycles were estimated at around $1,000 each, or about $17,000 in total, the report said.

“They (abductors) said that they want 17 motorcycles (and) have not told us yet that they need money,” said Ishaku Dan’azumi, the village head of Kurmin Wali, AP reported.

Sebastine Barde, president of the Adara Development Association ethnic group in the district, told AP that the kidnappers requested the motorcycles to replace ones they had lost.

The AP report said kidnappers in Nigeria’s conflict hot spots often ride on motorcycles through vast forest reserves that serve as their hideouts, a pattern that can help them evade security forces.

Kaduna Gov. Uba Sani visited the affected areas in Kajuru late Wednesday, AP reported, and said the state is working closely with security agencies to find and rescue the hostages. “Our administration will continue to pursue peace, security and inclusive development,” he said.

The AP report also noted that Nigeria has been in the crosshairs of the U.S. government in recent months over the security crisis, with the U.S. accusing Nigeria’s government of not protecting Christians. It said the accusation contributed to a diplomatic rift and that the U.S. launched an attack against alleged Islamic State group members on Nigerian territory in December, which Nigeria’s government said it was aware of.