Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Kaduna, Nigeria — Families and community leaders in rural southern Kaduna are living in fear as 32 villagers abducted more than a month ago in a coordinated bandit attack continue to be held hostage, with kidnappers threatening to kill them unless a steep ransom is paid. The victims were seized during a midnight raid on February 9, 2026, when armed gunmen stormed the Kutaho and Kugir communities in Aribi Ward, Kagarko Local Government Area, firing into homes and abducting residents in a wave of violence that has traumatised the predominantly farming populace.
According to local residents, the attackers issued their first ransom demands before the raid, warning that failure to comply would result in abductions. After the victims were taken to an unknown location, the kidnappers demanded ₦30 million and four motorcycles in exchange for their safe release. Families, many of whom live in poverty, have sold livestock, farm produce, and personal property in desperate attempts to meet the ransom, but so far have been unable to raise the full amount.
Eyewitnesses describe how gunmen entered homes in the early hours of the attack, firing sporadically and dragging villagers into waiting vehicles. Many of those taken include women, children, and a heavily pregnant woman, compounding the anxiety felt by families. Residents recalled hearing gunshots before discovering neighbours being forced from their homes, while others described the sudden chaos that unfolded as the assailants overwhelmed the communities.
The abductions have not only brought grief to affected households but have also triggered a broader humanitarian disruption. Many residents have fled their homes, seeking safety in neighbouring villages out of fear of repeat attacks. Community members say that more than half of the population has been displaced, leaving farms untended and local livelihoods in jeopardy.
Community leaders have appealed for urgent government and security agency intervention to secure the release of the captives. The chairman of the local Christian Association of Nigeria, who also serves as a pastor in the area, lamented the repeated security breaches that have plagued farming settlements in recent years. He said that regular violence has severely eroded agricultural activities, particularly ginger cultivation and other cash crops that once sustained the local economy.
A youth leader from Kutaho voiced frustration that limited assistance has been provided to affected families. While local officials have visited the area with some relief supplies, residents say these gestures fall short of addressing the underlying security crisis and the urgent need to rescue their loved ones. The absence of reliable telecommunications infrastructure has also hampered efforts to alert authorities during the raid or call for help as violence unfolded.
The broader security context in Kaduna State has been marked by repeated attacks on rural communities by armed groups. These groups have been responsible for a string of kidnappings, raids, and attacks across several local government areas, driving many to abandon their homes and farms. Incidents earlier in 2026 have included the abduction of clergy and congregants in nearby districts, highlighting the pervasive nature of insecurity in the region and its threat to civilian life, particularly in farming settlements.
Despite continuing threats to the captives’ lives, neither the Kaduna State Police Command nor the state government has issued detailed public updates about rescue efforts or negotiations with the kidnappers. Local residents say they have made repeated attempts to engage security agencies, but responses have been slow or insufficient, leaving families anxious and desperate for action.
Security analysts say that kidnappings for ransom have become a lucrative criminal enterprise in parts of northern and central Nigeria, where remote areas and gaps in law enforcement create opportunities for armed groups to operate with relative impunity. Such kidnappings generate illicit funds for criminal networks and deepen insecurity, undermining public confidence in the state’s ability to protect citizens.
Relatives of those held captive are urging swift action to prevent further tragedy, warning that the kidnappers’ recent threats to start killing hostages if ransom demands are not met underline the urgency of an effective response. They have called on government officials to deploy security forces, engage in negotiations, and enact measures that will bring the abducted villagers home safely and enable displaced families to return to their communities.
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