Police and government authorities have secured the release of 100 people, including women, children and nursing mothers, who were kidnapped from their village in Northwestern Nigeria over a month ago, a local police spokesperson said. Police and government authorities have secured the release of 100 people, including women, children and nursing mothers, who were kidnapped from their village in northwestern Nigeria over a month ago, a local police spokesperson said. The bulk of those were abducted in the northern states of Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger. While northeastern Nigeria has faced a decade of insecurity, including attacks by Islamist militants including Islamic State-allied Boko Haram, the current wave of kidnappings is primarily financially motivated. Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence estimates that kidnappers took 2,371 people across Nigeria in the first half of this year, demanding ransoms totalling $24.33 million. SBM said it could not accurately assess how much has been paid in ransoms. Over 200 students as well as scores of others taken in kidnapping raids are still being held captive.
SOURCE: REUTERS