Kidnapping gangs have spread terror across Nigeria - how will this affect this month's elections?
Aisha Mama had to flee her home for her mother's house in Katsina city because of the attacks on her villageMany Nigerians live in constant fear of being kidnapped and held for ransom by armed gangs, especially in the north-west of the country, where thousands of people have had to flee their homes. The insecurity means many in the region, which has the country's largest number of registered voters, may not take part in the 25 February elections.
"They held my wife for 38 days," said Abduljabara Mohammed, a civil servant and one of those considered well-off. He paid 1m naira for her release.Zaradeen Musa will not say how much he gave the kidnappers, but said it was a lot of money All those kidnapped were eventually freed but only after months of negotiations that resulted in them paying with cash or valuables such as motorcycles. The abductions show how far the kidnapping problem has spread - not even the poorest are spared.
Law professor Chidi Odinkalu argues that this election risks being dragged into unchartered legal territory if insecurity hampers voting and a candidate believes they have been robbed of vital support. Many others in Bakiyawwa say they would probably back the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party , if they vote at all.
Hundreds of school children have been abducted and released, and the state governor once asked residents to arm themselves against the bandits in a show of helplessness. While he has largely succeeded in containing the Islamist insurgency, violence in the north-west and south-east has massively increased on his watch.
There is also a dark horse in the form of Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party . Only his die-hard supporters expect him to win the presidency, but he has emerged as a major disruptor who might decide who becomes the next president.
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