Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Jevaun Rhashan
Armed bandits operating in northwestern Nigeria have reportedly abducted two men who were delivering ransom for kidnapped relatives in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, intensifying fears in communities already struggling with a prolonged wave of abductions and extortion.
Local sources in Wasagu town, located in the Zuru Emirate area of Kebbi State, said the victims identified as Bakari and his brother Buhari were seized on the same day they traveled to meet the kidnappers. The pair had reportedly gone to deliver ransom payments in an attempt to secure the release of relatives who were abducted months earlier, in December 2025.
Residents say the development highlights the increasingly precarious situation faced by families negotiating with armed groups, as kidnappers in parts of northwestern Nigeria have begun targeting intermediaries and ransom couriers themselves. In this case, community members reported that instead of receiving the payment and releasing hostages, the bandits detained the two men, effectively adding to the number of captives already held in forest camps around the area.
The incident is believed to be linked to a larger abduction crisis affecting Wasagu and surrounding communities. Local accounts indicate that about 45 people from the town are still being held despite earlier ransom payments by their families. Many of those captives were reportedly abducted during separate raids on villages in the area over recent months, part of a broader pattern of violence that has spread across Nigeria’s northwestern region.
Families who have been negotiating for their relatives’ release say the kidnappers repeatedly changed the terms of the agreements. In some cases, relatives who delivered ransom reportedly failed to return, while others were detained by the armed groups until additional payments were promised. Such tactics have deepened distrust and desperation among residents, many of whom say they have exhausted their savings and sold property to meet ransom demands.
Stone Reporters note that the banditry crisis in Kebbi State has worsened in recent years as criminal groups expand from neighboring states such as Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger. The vast forests and rural terrain of the region provide safe havens for armed gangs who conduct raids on villages, kidnap residents, and demand large payments from families seeking their release.
Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area has been repeatedly identified as one of the most vulnerable zones in Kebbi State. The region borders forest corridors used by bandits who move between several northwestern states, allowing them to evade security operations and regroup after attacks. Local leaders say these forest routes have become entrenched bases for criminal networks carrying out kidnappings and cattle rustling.
Over the past year, the area has witnessed several high-profile security incidents. In November 2025, gunmen stormed a boarding school in the town of Maga within the same local government area, killing a staff member and abducting 25 schoolgirls in a pre-dawn raid that shocked residents and drew national attention. Security forces later launched operations to track the attackers, highlighting the persistent threat posed by armed groups operating in the region.
Community members in Wasagu say the current situation is particularly distressing because many families believed ransom payments would secure the release of their loved ones. Instead, the abductions have continued, and the number of hostages has reportedly grown.
Several residents described a climate of fear in which people are reluctant to travel outside their villages, especially along rural roads leading to farmland or nearby markets. Farming communities have been among the hardest hit by bandit attacks, as armed groups frequently target villagers working in remote fields where security presence is limited.
Local vigilante groups have attempted to assist security agencies by gathering intelligence and patrolling villages, but residents say they are poorly equipped compared with the heavily armed gangs operating in the forests. Many of the bandits are reported to travel on motorcycles and carry automatic weapons, allowing them to move quickly and overwhelm isolated communities.
The abduction of Bakari and Buhari while delivering ransom has further underscored the dangerous dynamics of ransom negotiations. Analysts say criminal groups increasingly exploit negotiations as opportunities to capture additional victims or demand more money.
Stone Reporters note that ransom payments have become one of the most lucrative funding sources for armed groups in northwestern Nigeria. Kidnapping for ransom has evolved into a structured criminal enterprise in which victims are often held for weeks or months while families gather funds through community contributions, loans, or the sale of livestock and property.
Despite ongoing military and police operations, security challenges persist across several states in the region. Kebbi’s government has previously acknowledged that armed groups remain active in rural districts, particularly in areas close to forest reserves and border corridors used by bandits.
Residents of Wasagu say they are appealing for stronger security deployment in the area to prevent further abductions and rescue those still being held. Community leaders have also urged authorities to intensify surveillance of forest routes believed to be used by the kidnappers.
For families of the captives, however, the immediate concern remains the fate of their relatives. Many say they have received little information about the conditions of those held in captivity, and the seizure of ransom couriers has left them uncertain about whether negotiations can continue safely.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official confirmation from security authorities regarding the reported abduction of the two men delivering ransom. Local sources maintain that both Bakari and Buhari remain in captivity along with dozens of other residents from Wasagu whose families continue to await their release.
The incident illustrates the complex humanitarian and security challenges facing communities across northwestern Nigeria, where armed bandit groups have turned kidnapping into a persistent threat that disrupts daily life, undermines local economies, and leaves families trapped in cycles of fear and financial hardship.
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