Nigeria, July 29 -- The Zamfara State Government has vowed to intensify efforts to eliminate criminal networks operating in the state following the murder of 35 kidnapped villagers by terrorists.

The vow followed reports of the brutal killing of the villagers kidnapped from Banga in the Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area, allegedly over the failure of their families to pay a N35 million ransom demanded by the terrorists.

According to reports, the victims were among 53 villagers abducted from Banga.

Sani Suleiman, a resident of the village, said the bandits had demanded N1 million for each captive and released only the 18 for whom the ransom was paid.

He further claimed that the remaining 35 captives were "slaughtered one by one in the...