Escape from Captivity in Kulho Forest
Aliyu Alaramma, a resident of Kawon Kontagora in Niger State, escaped five days after being abducted alongside his elder brother on their farm. In an interview with Gaskiya News Hausa monitored by Premium Times, he described the severe torture he and other captives endured. He attempted to escape into the volatile Kulho forest in Mashegu Local Government Area, a remote region near Kainji Forest Reserve and Zugurma where armed groups maintain camps.
“I ran and hid in the thick grass, crawling through it to stay out of sight,” Mr Alaramma recalled. “At one point, I managed to hit one of the bandits with a stone. I kept moving, but as I ran, I struck another one of them. He immediately called his accomplices on his mobile phone, and they all rushed toward my location on motorcycles.”
Brutal Attack and Ransom Demand
“When they arrived, one of them drew his sword and ordered me to lie down. I refused,” he said. “He lunged at me with a sword. I struck the hand holding the weapon, but he still managed to slash me. I don’t remember exactly what happened after that. When I regained consciousness, I was covered in blood near a stream in their forest den, having suffered a gunshot wound to the head.”
The kidnappers initially demanded a N100 million ransom for his release. “They told me if I didn’t pay, I would never be released,” Mr Alaramma stated. “I told them I had never even seen N100 million in my entire life.” The captors repeatedly beat the victims and moved them deeper into the forest. After confiscating Mr Alaramma’s phone, they found photos of military personnel and accused him of being an undercover soldier. “We were blindfolded and starved for hours and days without food and water.”
Ransom Reduction and Bandit Hierarchy
The kidnappers later reduced their demand to N10 million, threatening that failure to comply would result in the victims being transferred directly to their boss, Mr Gide. According to Mr Alaramma, the bandits’ camps were divided into six distinct operational groups under Mr Gide’s command.
Clash Between Bandits and Lakurawa Group
Mr Alaramma revealed that a deadly firefight broke out between Mr Gide’s men and the Lakurawa group, an extremist sect active in North-west and North-central Nigeria. The clash erupted after the Lakurawa group demanded Zakat (an Islamic obligatory tax) in the form of cattle from the bandits, a demand Mr Gide’s faction rejected. Mr Alaramma said his elder brother, who understands the Fulfulde language, eavesdropped on the bandits’ conversations regarding the battle. The bandits spoke about suffering heavy casualties at the hands of the Lakurawa fighters for resisting the tax collection.
“The bandits suffered major losses, which made them incredibly brutal toward us,” Mr Alaramma explained. “They took their frustrations out on the captives, paranoid that we outsiders had invited the Lakurawa group into the area to track them down. They also made it clear that if they identify anyone as a local vigilante, they kill them immediately.”
Volatile Security Situation
The Kulho forest axis is a highly volatile environment where residents, travellers, and local farmers face constant threats of violence as rival factions compete for territorial dominance. The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Niger State, where banditry and extremist groups continue to terrorize communities.
