A member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Doguwa constituency, Alhaji Salisu Riruwai, said over N40 million was paid as ransom to free some people who were kidnapped in the area.

Riruwai disclosed this while briefing Newsmen on Tuesday in Kano on the rampant cases of kidnapping across the different villages in Doguwa Local Government Area.

“This N40 million I am talking about was paid only by the people whose relatives were kidnapped in one ward out of the many wards we have in my constituency.

“There are other people who paid huge sums of money to free their kidnapped relatives in other areas that we are not aware of,” he said.

According to the lawmaker, four nursing mothers were kidnapped recently in the area, and in the process of freeing them, one of their babies died.

He commended the security agencies for their efforts to rid the area of criminals.

“I also commend the Speaker and my other colleagues for their contributions and support to the ongoing process to amend the bill against kidnapping, abduction and forced labour,” he said.

According to him, if the bill is amended, it will provide for life imprisonment for the kidnappers.(NAN)