Ahmed Abubakar Zakka, a Kaduna State resident abducted alongside his wife and infant daughter, has made another appeal for help from captivity after revealing that his right hand has become severely swollen and numb. The development has heightened concerns about his physical condition and the safety of his family, who remain in the custody of suspected bandits demanding a substantial ransom.
In a video reported by SaharaReporters on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Zakka displayed his swollen right hand and appealed to relatives, friends and members of the public for assistance. The family was reportedly abducted from Alrahus Estate in Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during an attack on the night of October 5. Their captors have demanded ₦300 million for the release of Zakka, his wife and their infant daughter.
Speaking in the latest footage, Zakka said his captors had tied his hands so tightly that his right hand had become numb. He raised the affected limb towards the camera, expressing fear that the injury could deteriorate without assistance.
“Please, I’m seeking help from my relatives and friends because of how tightly they tied my hand. See how my hand has become. Please help me, I don’t want my hand to be cut off,” he said.
The appeal was made while Zakka was apparently still being held at an undisclosed location. The video showed him in distress, although the precise extent of his injury could not be established from the footage alone. There has been no publicly confirmed medical examination or diagnosis of the condition affecting his hand.
The latest recording follows an earlier video in which Zakka appeared alongside his wife and their daughter, appealing for intervention while an armed man pointed a rifle towards him. In that footage, he identified himself and explained that the abductors were demanding ₦300 million.
The earlier recording showed Zakka holding his crying daughter while his wife sat beside him. The family appeared to be under the control of armed men, and the footage prompted calls for government and security agencies to intervene.
According to reports from the affected community, gunmen invaded Alrahus Estate late on October 5, moving between residential properties in search of people to abduct. Zakka, his wife and their daughter were taken after the attackers entered their home.
Some subsequent reports dated the incident to October 6, apparently referring to the period around midnight. The accounts consistently place the attack during the night between October 5 and October 6, although the exact time has not been independently established.
The family's daughter has been described as six months old in reports quoting relatives and local sources. Other accounts have given a different age, but the available information confirms that she is an infant being held alongside her parents.
A relative interviewed after the abduction said Zakka and his wife had been married for six years before the birth of their daughter. The family member also disclosed that both parents had lost their own parents before marriage.
The relative appealed to the authorities to secure the family's release without injury, describing the circumstances as particularly distressing because of the child's involvement.
The attack reportedly affected other residents of the estate. A pregnant woman was also abducted during the same incident while her husband, Abdulkadir Bello, was away in Abuja.
Bello told reporters that his wife contacted him when armed men began attempting to enter their compound. He said he initially tried reaching the police before contacting military personnel for assistance.
According to his account, the attackers eventually took his wife away and subsequently contacted him to demand ransom. Her present condition and the outcome of any negotiations have not been independently confirmed.
The abduction of the Zakka family attracted wider public attention after the first video circulated on social media. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar called for urgent action to secure the release of the family and other people being held by armed groups.
Atiku described the footage as disturbing and said the abduction demonstrated the dangers facing families affected by insecurity. He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and prevent further attacks.
The lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, also expressed concern about repeated kidnappings in Millennium City and neighbouring communities.
He called on the Kaduna State Government, the police and other security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, increase operational activity and ensure the safe return of abducted residents.
El-Rufai identified Dan Bushiya and surrounding communities as areas requiring greater security attention. He also referred to concerns affecting Malali and Unguwan Rimi, stressing the need for preventive measures alongside efforts to rescue those already in captivity.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) subsequently appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and senior security officials to intervene in the family's case.
In a statement attributed to its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the organisation urged coordinated intelligence and security operations to secure the release of Zakka, his wife and their daughter.
HURIWA described the involvement of an infant as an urgent humanitarian concern and called for the protection of other people reportedly being held by armed groups across the country.
The organisation's intervention followed public concern about the conditions in which the family was being detained. The latest video, showing Zakka's swollen hand, has introduced an additional medical concern into an already serious security situation.
Tight restraints can restrict circulation and damage nerves or surrounding tissues, particularly when pressure is prolonged. However, the appearance of swelling or numbness in a recording does not establish the precise medical condition or whether permanent damage has occurred.
Only an appropriate clinical assessment could determine the seriousness of Zakka's injury and whether emergency treatment is required. His stated fear that his hand might be amputated should therefore be understood as an expression of distress, not a confirmed medical outcome.
The reported ₦300 million demand has also raised questions about the family's ability to secure their release. Relatives have appealed for assistance, but there has been no verified announcement that the ransom has been paid or that negotiations have produced an agreement.
The identity of the abductors has not been independently established, and no group has been conclusively linked to the incident through publicly available investigative findings.
When contacted earlier in the week, Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson Mansir Hassan reportedly said he would respond to inquiries about the case. A subsequent official account confirming the progress of a rescue operation was not available in the reports reviewed.
The absence of a public operational update does not establish that security agencies have taken no action. It means the extent and outcome of any ongoing investigation or rescue effort cannot presently be verified.
For the Zakka family, the immediate concerns remain their continued captivity, the safety of their infant daughter and the reported deterioration of Ahmed Zakka's hand.
As of October 15, there was no confirmed announcement of the family's release. His latest appeal has renewed attention to their circumstances and the need for reliable information about their welfare and the efforts being made to bring them home safely.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments