In the absence of telecommunications in some parts of Sokoto State, suspected bandits operating in the Eastern senatorial district of the State have allegedly written a letter to a monarch in Burkusuma, situated in Sabon-Birni local government area, demanding for ransom to secure the release of 20 persons who were kidnapped from two communities in the area.
It was gathered that the bandits have resorted to sending letters to families of kidnapped victims since the shutdown of telecommunication Services in the area.
The letter was allegedly written in Hausa language by one of the victims kidnapped by the bandits and addressed to the district head of the area, Sarkin Rafin Burkusuma.
The bandits, in the letter, informed the monarch that the victims, who were kidnapped from Gatawa and Burkusuma villages, are all in good health and doing great with them.
They, however, demanded a ransom of twenty million naira to be paid for the release of the kidnapped victims.
The kidnapped victims, whose names were all written in the letter, consist of nine males, eight females and two children. One of the victims was said to be released to deliver the letter to Gatawa through the district head.
Efforts to reach Sokoto State Police Command for confirmation was unsuccessful as the phone of the Commands PPRO, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, was unreachable as at the time of filing this report
Recall that the Police in Sokoto had earlier confirmed through its spokesman that bandits attacked the village earlier in the week.
Letter writing is said to be a new twist to the operations of the bandits introduced following the shutdown of telecommunication services in the area.
