Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
A Nigerian man identified as Kasimu Wali Tambuwal has reportedly lost his eyesight after spending six months in captivity under suspected bandits, in a case that has drawn widespread emotional reactions across social media and renewed national attention on the country’s persistent kidnapping crisis.
The victim’s plight became public after a distressing video circulated online showing the visibly weakened man making a desperate plea for assistance. In the recording, he spoke in Hausa, appealing to his family and the public to help secure his release because he said prolonged torture, starvation and harsh living conditions had severely damaged his health.
According to the victim’s statement, his physical condition deteriorated significantly during captivity. He said he was experiencing progressive loss of vision and severe body pain affecting his limbs and joints. He also indicated that he had been subjected to prolonged suffering and was struggling to maintain basic bodily functions after months of confinement.
The video was reportedly recorded on the eighth day of the Ramadan fasting period, adding a religious and emotional dimension to the public reaction. In his plea, Tambuwal begged relatives to put aside any internal disputes and prioritise efforts to secure his freedom. He emphasised that his survival was becoming uncertain due to worsening physical decline.
Kidnappers in several parts of Nigeria have increasingly used hostage videos as a psychological pressure tool on families to accelerate ransom payments. Security analysts explain that such recordings are often orchestrated to compel relatives to demonstrate urgency in meeting ransom demands, sometimes by forcing victims to reveal physical suffering.
In the video, the victim repeatedly asked anyone who could assist to help deliver ransom money directly to the captors, stating that the abductors instructed his family to avoid electronic transfers. Such conditions are commonly associated with criminal groups attempting to avoid financial tracking by law enforcement agencies.
The background voice of an individual believed to be one of the captors was heard instructing the victim to partially remove his clothing so that his relatives could visually confirm his deteriorating health condition. Security and human rights observers have condemned such tactics, describing them as psychological torture designed to intensify pressure on families.
Medical experts warn that prolonged captivity under starvation, dehydration, stress trauma, and physical abuse can lead to irreversible neurological and sensory damage. Vision loss in such cases may be caused by a combination of malnutrition, untreated infections, or trauma-related complications affecting optic nerve function.
The identity of the bandit group holding the victim has not been confirmed, and authorities have not publicly disclosed the location of the captivity site. Security agencies in Nigeria typically avoid releasing operational details during ongoing rescue intelligence efforts to prevent compromising potential hostage recovery missions.
Kidnapping for ransom has remained a major security challenge in several regions of Nigeria, particularly in the North-West and North-Central zones where armed criminal groups operate across forested terrain. Analysts attribute the persistence of the crime to economic hardship, weak rural surveillance systems, and the financial incentives associated with ransom collection.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that extended hostage detention cases are becoming more common and that victims often suffer long-term physical and psychological consequences even after rescue. Advocacy groups have called for stronger intelligence coordination among security agencies and increased community-based early warning systems.
Family members of the victim are reportedly struggling to raise the ransom demanded by the abductors, highlighting the economic burden placed on households affected by kidnapping incidents. In many similar cases, families are forced to sell property, borrow money, or rely on community contributions to meet ransom demands.
Security authorities have not issued an official statement regarding rescue operations for Tambuwal at the time of reporting. It remains unclear whether intelligence units are tracking the suspected captors or whether negotiations are ongoing between family representatives and the kidnappers.
Stone Reporters notes that the case reflects the human cost of Nigeria’s continuing kidnapping crisis, where victims often endure prolonged suffering before rescue or release. The situation has intensified calls for more aggressive counter-kidnapping strategies, improved rural security infrastructure, and enhanced socioeconomic policies aimed at reducing recruitment into criminal networks.
As the public continues to react to the emotional video, advocacy groups are urging security agencies to prioritize the safe recovery of the victim and others still held in captivity across affected regions.
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