Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Carmen Diego
A disturbing video circulating on social media has drawn renewed attention to the worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West after armed men paraded two young women believed to have been abducted in the forested corridor between Zamfara State and Sokoto State, forcing them to plead publicly for help.
In the footage, the two captives appear visibly distressed, fatigued and disheveled, their clothes soiled and faces swollen, suggesting prolonged hardship during captivity. They repeatedly appeal to viewers, saying, “Please help us. Help us out,” as they struggle to contain tears. The video is believed to have been recorded by the abductors, who are suspected to be part of armed bandit networks operating across the Zamfara–Sokoto forest belt.
An armed man speaking in Hausa can be heard in the background, at one point mocking the women and pressuring them to speak louder. His voice appears to guide or coerce their statements to the camera, a tactic commonly used by kidnappers seeking to intensify pressure on families or authorities for ransom negotiations.
The video was shared by Mrs. Aisha Al-Mustapha, a teacher who posted it on X, formerly known as X. She identified one of the victims as Maryam, describing her as a friend who had been travelling from Zamfara to Sokoto to continue her education when she was allegedly abducted. According to Al-Mustapha, the young woman has been held for more than a month.
“My friend Maryam has been held captive for the last month. Her only crime was traveling to school from Zamfara to Sokoto,” she wrote. “It truly hurts me how banditry has become normalized, and human lives are treated like commodities.”
Details surrounding the abduction remain limited, and security authorities in both states have not yet released an official statement confirming the identities of the victims or the circumstances of their capture. However, residents in border communities between the two states report frequent movement of armed groups within forested enclaves that straddle state lines, complicating coordinated security responses.
The North-West region of Nigeria has, in recent years, experienced a sustained surge in banditry, mass kidnappings and rural attacks. Armed groups operating in remote forest areas have targeted students, travelers, farmers and entire villages, often demanding ransom payments in exchange for release. The dense forests spanning Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and parts of Kaduna have become strategic hideouts for criminal gangs, allowing them to evade patrols and launch intermittent raids.
Human rights advocates say the use of propaganda videos featuring distressed captives reflects an evolving tactic among kidnappers. Such recordings are intended to amplify psychological pressure, galvanize ransom negotiations and generate public attention. In several past incidents across northern Nigeria, videos of captives have circulated online as proof of life and leverage in negotiations.
Security analysts note that the Zamfara–Sokoto axis has become a critical corridor for armed networks due to its terrain and historical patterns of cattle rustling and rural militancy. Although federal and state authorities have deployed joint military and police operations in affected areas, the persistence of kidnappings underscores the complexity of dismantling entrenched criminal cells.
Residents across both states continue to voice frustration over what they describe as inadequate protection. Community leaders frequently call for expanded intelligence gathering, improved aerial surveillance and the establishment of permanent forward operating bases near forest strongholds. However, challenges such as limited road infrastructure, logistical constraints and cross-border mobility of armed groups have hindered sustained containment.
For families of abductees, the emotional toll is acute. Prolonged captivity often leaves relatives in limbo, balancing hope with fear as they await news of negotiations or rescue efforts. In some cases, families resort to private fundraising to meet ransom demands, while others depend on local mediators who maintain informal communication channels with armed groups.
The emergence of the latest video has reignited debate over the normalization of banditry in parts of northern Nigeria. Civil society groups argue that repeated cycles of abduction and ransom payments risk entrenching a shadow economy in which kidnapping becomes financially self-sustaining. They emphasize the need for comprehensive approaches that address both immediate security gaps and underlying socioeconomic drivers.
As of the time of reporting, authorities have not publicly confirmed whether negotiations are underway or whether any rescue operation has been initiated. The identities of the armed group responsible also remain unclear. Security agencies in Zamfara and Sokoto have previously pledged intensified patrols and intelligence operations aimed at dismantling forest-based camps.
For now, the two women’s pleas echo widely across social media, amplifying calls for urgent intervention. Their ordeal underscores the ongoing vulnerability of travelers and students along the Zamfara–Sokoto route and highlights the broader humanitarian cost of persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West.
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