There was tension in Birnin Magaji in Zamfara State over the refusal of bandits to release the abducted residents after a negotiation to release the gunmen’s wives who were earlier detained by the community members.

The wives of the terrorists, including a pregnant woman, were said to have been detained by the youths of the community following a series of abductions in the area.

The residents of the community also abducted family members of the bandits.

It was gathered that bandits later gave residents of the area 24 hours to release their abducted wives but the youths declined, insisting that the bandits must first release the community members in their captivity.

Though a negotiation was said to have been initiated between the community leaders and bandits toward resolving the stalemate, one of the terrorist kingpins ordered the release of their abducted family members within 24 hours or he would unleash terror on the community.

READ ALSO: Bandits attack Kaduna mosque, kill 7 worshippers

A local source disclosed that after pressure from the gunmen, the youths complied and released the women.

The bandits, on the other hand, however, failed to release the kidnapped residents of the community, a development which led to an uproar in the area.

“Actually, we have no reason to release the women for whatever it is. But when we were requested to consider the health challenges of the women, we succumbed.

“The women including the pregnant one came for medical treatment and antenatal at a public health facility in Birnin Magaji.

“Since the release of their wives, the bandits are yet to release our people that they abducted. This is not fair. We may henceforth retaliate since we also know some of their families,” a community leader, who pleaded anonymity, told PRNigeria.

The Star