UK Condemns Execution of 38 Hostages in Zamfara After N50m Ransom, Calls It a Major Setback to Nigeria’s Security and Development
The United Kingdom government has strongly condemned the murder of 38 abducted individuals by terrorists in Banga community, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, describing the incident as a significant blow to Nigeria’s development and social stability.
The victims, most of whom were women, were reportedly executed on Sunday by a gang led by the notorious bandit kingpin, Dan Sadiya, after the terrorists allegedly received a ransom of N50 million from the victims’ families.
Reacting to the tragedy during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, labelled kidnapping an “unspeakable crime” that inflicts devastating harm on families, communities, and the broader society.
She condemned the brutal killing of victims after ransom payment, calling it not only criminal but also deeply inhumane.
“It damages people’s mental and physical well-being, retards economic progress and all the other things that we know well. And we must bring an end to this,” Lever said.
She extended the UK Government’s condolences to the people of Zamfara State and to the families and communities affected by the atrocity.
The press briefing was part of the launch of the State Expansion Programme for the Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, an initiative of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in partnership with the UK Government.
Lever explained that the multi-agency Kidnap Fusion Cell is a three-year programme aimed at fostering a unified response among Nigeria’s security agencies to tackle the escalating threat of kidnapping across the country.
The Cell, she said, supports the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) through data gathering, analysis, and sharing with the Office of the National Security Adviser. It also offers state-level trend analysis to guide strategic interventions.
She noted that the establishment of the Cell and continued training initiatives reflect the robust security and defence collaboration between the UK and Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Major-General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, emphasised the Fusion Cell’s collaboration with military and law enforcement agencies since its inception. He said the centre acts as a central hub for intelligence sharing and operational coordination to enhance Nigeria’s ability to combat kidnapping and save lives.
“We remain mindful of the ongoing threats, particularly in states such as Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna, which recorded the highest number of incidents during the period under review,” he noted.
General Laka added that, under the directive of the National Security Adviser, the NCTC has launched a state expansion programme. This includes the deployment of anti-kidnapping liaison officers from the Nigerian Police and DSS to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
