Zamfara Emir Recounts Ordeal In Bandits’ Captivity

HRH Attahiru was, however, released after spending 32 days in the custody of his captors.

In an interview with Daily Trust on Saturday, Attahiru said he was going to an event when his convoy was attacked by the bandits, adding that the terrorists killed some persons and kidnapped him and others.

The monarch pointed out that the bandits took the victims into the bush and they made them walk for two days before arriving at their camp.

Attahiru disclosed that he spent 32 days in their camp, stressing that they were kept in an open place where it was raining day and night.

He said: “Like everybody else has been explaining, you were on your way and suddenly, people started shooting and your driver tried to manoeuvre, but others came from behind and attacked and picked up people, killed a couple of others and took you into the bush, walked for about two days, then you were taken to their camp.

“I spent 30 days in their camp, apart from the two days we used in walking to that place. And it was during the rainy season, so it was raining day and night.

“That was why I said the strength some of us had must have only come from God. I was not the only person, there were few others, including young women in my group. We all went through; thanks to God.”

He added: “I wouldn’t want to compromise some situations, so I wouldn’t want to go into very deep specifics, but it was an open place. They had the advantage of maybe hearing and seeing people from there. The people who kept watch over their victims were different from those who went for operations.

“These are young and illiterate people who were into drugs and other things. Those who were a little bit older were the ones who would go and scavenge for victims.“