Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Kaduna, Nigeria — Thirteen villagers abducted by armed bandits in the Gidan Waya community of Lere Local Government Area in Kaduna State remain in captivity despite the payment of a ₦40 million ransom by their community, local leaders confirmed in a press briefing on Monday. The unresolved hostage situation has compounded fears over growing insecurity in northern Nigeria, as families, community elders and state authorities grapple with the failure of payment to secure their loved ones’ release amid persistent violence and criminality across the region.
Elders of the Gidan Waya community said the abduction occurred in the early hours of November 11 last year, when a group of gunmen stormed the settlement between 11 p.m. and midnight, firing shots and overwhelming residents before seizing 13 individuals — five men and eight women — and killing four others. Several villagers were injured in the assault, according to Mallam Rabo Sambo, Chairman of the Gidan Waya Elders Forum.
In a desperate bid to free the captives, the community mobilised resources by selling more than 3,000 bags of maize, a staple agricultural product, to raise the ₦40 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers. The funds were delivered as instructed by the abductors, but weeks have passed since the payment and none of those seized has been released, elders said. The community’s anguish has grown as the hoped-for return of the hostages failed to materialise.
The elders’ appeal for public attention was motivated by concerns that local and state government authorities might not be fully informed of the deteriorating situation. “We don’t know whether Governor Uba Sani or even our local government chairman has been properly briefed about what happened to us,” Sambo said, calling for urgent intervention from the federal and state governments.
The incident has drawn renewed focus to the persistent threat of banditry in Kaduna and other northwestern states, where criminal gangs operate with impunity in remote communities, abducting civilians for ransom as a primary revenue source. Analysts and security observers say that such kidnappings have become a lucrative enterprise for armed groups, with ransom payments often used to procure weapons, sustain camps deep in forests, and expand operational reach.
In some cases, kidnappers have escalated their demands after initial ransom payments, leaving families trapped in a cycle of negotiation and extortion. A report from late 2025 indicated that bandits had demanded as much as ₦500 million for the release of 13 captives from a similar raid in the Kurama Chiefdom of Lere LGA, far exceeding what rural communities could afford and illustrating the exploitative nature of ransom negotiations.
The emotional toll on the families of the abducted remains profound. In related accounts from neighbouring communities, hostages have included vulnerable individuals, such as elderly residents and religious leaders, heightening fears for their safety as days turn into weeks and families receive no substantive updates on their condition.
The banditry crisis in northern Nigeria has intensified in recent years, with multiple high-profile mass kidnappings drawing national and international attention. In January 2026, more than 160 worshippers were abducted during coordinated attacks on churches in the Kurmin Wali area of Kajuru Local Government Area, as reported by community and police sources. That incident underscored the scale and sophistication of armed groups targeting civilians in broad daylight.
Kidnapping for ransom has become endemic in several states across the north, driven by a confluence of factors including porous rural terrain, limited security presence, organised criminal networks and socio-economic deprivation that criminal elements exploit to maintain influence. These groups employ mobile tactics, often on motorcycles, to strike isolated villages and religious gatherings with minimal risk of immediate confrontation by security forces.
State and federal government responses have varied, with authorities sometimes denying or downplaying incidents initially before confirming details once investigations progress. Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has previously assured residents of efforts to enhance security, but communities continue to report feeling vulnerable and inadequately protected.
Security forces, including the Nigeria Police Force and military units, conduct periodic operations against bandit encampments and criminal networks, but the sheer scale of the territory and the adaptive tactics of armed groups complicate sustained counter-insurgency efforts. There have been intermittent successes, including arrests of suspected kidnappers and the recovery of weapons and ransom funds, but these actions have yet to halt the cycle of abductions effectively.
Human rights groups and civil society organisations have repeatedly urged authorities to adopt more comprehensive strategies that go beyond kinetic responses. These include community-based intelligence sharing, investment in economic opportunities for vulnerable populations, rehabilitation of affected areas and psychological support for victims’ families. Critics argue that without addressing root causes — such as poverty, unemployment and lack of educational access — the underlying incentives for banditry and ransom-driven crime will remain unchallenged.
For the Gidan Waya community, the ongoing captivity of 13 villagers represents a stark example of the human cost of insecurity. Local leaders continue to press for coordinated action from Kaduna State and federal authorities, emphasising the need for accelerated rescue efforts, greater protection for rural settlements and a more robust framework for negotiating or securing the release of hostages.
The wider implications of the crisis extend to national stability and public confidence in government institutions, with repeated kidnappings eroding trust and exacerbating fear among citizens in regions long afflicted by violence. As Nigeria confronts this entrenched security challenge, the plight of the Gidan Waya hostages highlights the urgency of comprehensive policy responses that integrate military, political and socio-economic measures to restore safety and resilience in affected communities.
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