BRING FOOD FIRST, RANSOM TALKS LATER: HORROR OF KADUNA KIDNAPPING DEEPENS
KADUNA, NIGERIA — A harrowing demand from armed kidnappers in Janjala has plunged families, security officials and community leaders into profound distress as they struggle to secure the release of 14 residents seized during a violent raid in early February. In a chilling twist to the ongoing abduction saga, the armed group holding the captives has issued an unprecedented condition: supply food to the hostages first, and then they will engage in ransom negotiations.
The victims, including a local vigilante member, his wife and 12 other community members, were taken from their homes in the dead of night on 8 February 2026 when a gang of more than 20 armed gunmen stormed the village. Witnesses reported terror as the assailants overpowered residents without warning, shooting one man, Shamsudeen Adamu, during the operation and forcing the rest into the surrounding forests. As of early March, all 14 remain in captivity amid growing concern for their wellbeing.
Families and intermediaries have been attempting to satisfy the kidnappers’ demands. In what has been described by those involved as a strange and harrowing message, the bandit leader called from one of the captives’ phones to insist that food supplies be delivered before discussions about money could begin. The specified list is extensive: a bag each of rice, guinea corn and maize, a jerrycan of palm oil, five cartons of spaghetti, a carton of seasoning cubes and a cash sum of ₦1 million. The kidnappers purportedly told families that the cash was required for energy drinks, cigarettes, Indian hemp and other substances—an assertion that has both baffled and alarmed relatives.
Efforts to communicate with the kidnappers have been fraught. When the community liaison attempted to plead with the bandit leader on behalf of the struggling families, the call was abruptly terminated. Residents say the captives are now suffering serious hunger, underscoring the urgency of the bizarre conditions set by their captors.
Relatives are scrambling for resources. With many households already facing financial hardship, the additional burden of assembling the food items and ransom has pushed families to the brink. Some have resorted to selling personal belongings or produce in a desperate bid to gather funds. Others have appealed directly to state authorities and security agencies to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.
Security forces, including police and military units, have intensified operations in the forests between Sabon‑Kurutu and Hayin‑Dam, believed to be possible hideouts for the kidnappers. But despite these sweeps, no significant breakthrough has been reported, and the captives’ fate remains uncertain.
The abduction in Janjala is part of a broader pattern of insecurity that has plagued rural communities in southern Kaduna and surrounding regions for years. Banditry, kidnappings, armed raids and terror assaults have repeatedly disrupted daily life, leading to loss of lives and displacement of residents. Just weeks prior, a separate attack on a wedding in Kahir village, also within Kagarko Local Government Area, left at least 13 people dead and others abducted, further highlighting the deteriorating security situation.
Authorities have acknowledged these security challenges. While no official public statement has been issued specifically about the Janjala kidnappings by the Kaduna State Police Command, community leaders and intermediaries have called on government and law enforcement to step up efforts to rescue the captives and dismantle the networks responsible. Some security sources indicate ongoing forest operations, but details remain limited and progress slow.
The incident has sparked broader debate and criticism across social and political spheres in Nigeria. Civil society groups and local stakeholders have demanded that security forces adopt more proactive strategies to protect vulnerable communities and pursue perpetrators with greater urgency. These calls reflect widespread frustration with the frequency of attacks and perceived inadequacies in protective measures for rural populations.
For the families directly impacted, each passing day brings fresh anguish. Mothers, fathers, siblings and children of those abducted have taken turns at communication hubs, anxiously awaiting word from the forests. Many describe sleepless nights fuelled by fear and helplessness, praying that their loved ones are still alive and not suffering further harm. Efforts by neighbours to offer emotional and material support have helped, but the emotional toll continues to mount.
Security analysts note that the kidnappers’ unusual demand—prioritising food before ransom negotiations—may signal desperation, opportunism or a calculated attempt to extract greater leverage over families who are already desperate. Whatever the motive, the humanitarian implications are stark: hostages suffering from hunger and exposure could face life‑threatening conditions if immediate relief isn’t secured.
0With local leaders, families and security agencies all struggling to respond, there are growing appeals for state and federal intervention. Some suggest deploying specialised rescue teams with expertise in forest operations and negotiation, while others urge a more holistic strategy that addresses the root causes of banditry, such as poverty, lack of education and ungoverned spaces where criminal gangs can thrive.
Despite the grim circumstances, families remain hopeful that their loved ones will be released safely. Their hope, however fragile, is sustained by community solidarity and the belief that increased public attention and official engagement can tilt the balance in their favour. In the meantime, the haunting message from the kidnappers—bring food first, then we’ll talk ransom—lingers as a stark reminder of both the perilous reality facing remote Nigerian communities and the complex challenges of securing peace in areas beset by armed criminality.
As this story continues to unfold, it underscores the urgent need for decisive action to protect civilians, strengthen local security architecture, and bring an end to the cycle of fear and violence that has engulfed Janjala and similar communities across northern Nigeria.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments