The victims, sharing their harrowing experiences in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, revealed that the forests inhabited by the bandits were teeming with numerous snakes, posing threats to both abductors and captives.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one survivor recounted that the kidnappers deliberately threw them into areas infested with snakes, exploiting the inherent fear and panic caused by encountering these reptiles.

“The kidnappers know the areas infested with snakes and would often throw the victims there,” the survivor stated, emphasizing that the mere sight of snakes was used as a terrifying tactic to coerce victims into urging their friends and family to sell their possessions for ransom.

Investigations by NAN uncovered that some of the most snake-infested forests are located in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, and Kala-Balge, near Lake Chad, in Borno. Other areas included Shaki in Oyo State, Borgu and Kagara in Niger, Karim Lamido in Adamawa, and Lau in Taraba.

Victims highlighted that the current heat exacerbates the situation, as snakes become more active, leaving their hiding spots in search of fresh air and food. The nights, according to survivors, are particularly traumatizing, with the added fear of reptiles crawling through their surroundings.

Recounting an ordeal in the Kagara forest in Niger, a victim shared that snakes were so prevalent that locals commonly referred to them as “kadangarun Kagara (Kagara lizards).” The victim further revealed that both hostages and kidnappers were not spared from snake bites during their captivity.

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