Kwara : Bandits flog abducted POS operator, children in disturbing video as families seek N50m ransom

A chilling video has emerged from Kwara State showing armed bandits flogging a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator and two children as their captors insist on a ₦50 million ransom.

The footage, sighted on Thursday, shows a gunman repeatedly striking the victims—two of whom are minors—in what appears to be a forest camp. The captives, visibly weak and malnourished, are heard crying out in pain and appealing to the Nigerian government and the public for help.

Among those held is a well-known POS agent, identified as Yman, who was abducted in late June 2025 along with others during a wave of kidnappings in Kwara North. They have now spent over a month in captivity.

“They are demanding N50 million before they can release them,” a relative of one victim said.

“We have sold lands and all valuable properties to raise this money and we have even issued out flyers to call for donations. It is sad that the government and security operatives are not doing anything to rescue them.”

Relatives expressed deep concern over the psychological trauma being inflicted on the hostages, describing the latest video as “heartbreaking and inhumane.”

This follows earlier revelations that the kidnappers had seized Yman’s TikTok and WhatsApp accounts, using them to post threatening content and send videos of torture to his family.

According to family members, the abductors have been uploading videos from the forest hideout without concealing their identities.

“He has been using Yman’s phone number to call us,” a relative revealed. “He even used the WhatsApp line to send us a video of Yman crying and begging for help due to hunger and torture. Now, they’ve hijacked his TikTok account and the kidnapper is confidently uploading videos from their hideout.”

Another family source lamented the apparent lack of action by security forces.

“The bandit is not even covering his face,” the source said. “He is doing this because he knows the Nigerian Government and security operatives cannot track him. This country is finished.”

SAHARAREPORTERS