Gunmen who abducted a nursing mother and her baby have demanded a ransom of N5million for her release.

News Express gathered that around 6.25pm on Friday evening, armed bandits along Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna road kidnapped ten persons at Kuriga.Earlier that day at Kwanar-tsauni, between Udawa and Labi,twenty-two persons were kidnapped, including a nursing mother.

Sources close to the husband of the abducted nursing mother said the kidnappers are requesting five million naira for her release, together with the infant. "The husband, a retiree without monthly pension and gratuity, cannot afford to pay the ransom", the sources added.

In a statement signed by Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, and made available to News Express,the group called on thefederal government to conduct aerial bombardment of identified hideouts of armed bandits along Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna road, Kaduna international airport, as well as Birnin-Gwari-Funtua road, and Kamuku forest.

"We are not safe, and if care is not taken, peasant farmers in our community will not be able to farm this season due to the presence of armed bandits around their farmland.

"Deployment of additional security personnel to Birnin-Gwari without aerial bombardment of armed bandit hideout and synergy with local vigilantes will be an exercise in futility.

"Time for the government to act is now before armed bandits crush our entire community.