Armed Men in Nigeria Release 74 Children

Parents and a village official announced today, Saturday, that armed men in Nigeria have released 74 of more than 80 children kidnapped earlier this month in Zamfara state in the northwest of the country after a ransom of nearly $43 per child was paid. A village official in Wadzamai stated that 11 people are still kidnapped and that two were killed while attempting to escape from their captors. A spokesperson mentioned that the police in Zamfara cannot comment at this time. Kidnappers in Nigeria often hold their victims for months in forests unless a ransom is paid, and they also extort villagers for fees to allow them to farm and harvest crops.