Bandits release video of two kidnapped young women begging for freedom

Bandits have released a disturbing video showing two young women abducted over a month ago while travelling to Sokoto State. 

The victims, who appeared visibly traumatised, exhausted and unkempt, were seen in the footage crying and pleading with the public and authorities to secure their freedom. 

A teacher, Mrs Aisha Al-Mustapha, who posted the video on X, identified one of the young women as Maryam and her friend.

According to Al-Mustaoga, one of the women was abducted while travelling from Zamfara State to Sokoto State to resume school.

In the video, the two women repeatedly cried out, “Please help us. Help us out,”

At one point in the footage, one of the armed men, speaking in Hausa, was heard taunting the captives, asking them why they could not speak louder to describe their situation. 

The bandit’s voice could be heard in the background as he appeared to coerce the women into addressing the camera.

Mrs Al-Mustapha lamented the prolonged captivity of her friend.

“My friend Maryam has been in captivity for the past one month. Her only sin was travelling to go to school from Zamfara to Sokoto,” she wrote. 

“It really pains me how banditry has been normalised and human beings are being priced like animals.”