Infamous bandits in Northern Nigeria have abducted not less than 20 people in another violent attack in the College of Agriculture and Animal Science in Zamfara State. A police officer and three security officials were killed during the incident

The bandits responsible for the attack have now demanded N350 million as a ransom for their release.

According to Punch, the provost of the College, Alhaji Habibu Mainasara, said the bandits had called him and told him that they “needed N350 million for the 20 people currently in their captivity.”

“They said that the money must be paid before they could release the staff and the students they kidnapped in my school,” he added.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Mohammed Shehu, said the command was not aware of the amount of money demanded by the bandits.

There has been an increase in cases of kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria since the turn of the year. According to the presidency, President Buhari would hold a meeting with his security chiefs this Thursday to discuss the heightening state of insecurity in the country, among other topics.