Bandits continued to hold 13 abducted villagers from Gidan Waya community in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The abductees stayed in captivity despite the payment of N40 million ransom. Community leaders raised the alarm during a press conference in Kaduna.
The Night Raid and Abduction
Bandits attacked Gidan Waya on November 11, 2025. The raid occurred between 11 p.m. and midnight. Gunmen surrounded the closed settlement and ambushed residents.
They fired shots and abducted five men and eight women. Four residents died in the attack. Five others suffered gunshot injuries. Mallam Rabo Sambo, Chairman of the Gidan Waya Elders Forum, described the incident.
He said, “We heard gunshots, and before we knew what was happening, the bandits had surrounded the settlement… Our community is a closed settlement, so they easily ambushed us.” Bandits wore masks during the operation. This marked the first such attack in the previously peaceful community.
Contact and Ransom Demand
The kidnappers contacted the community in January 2026. They demanded N40 million for the release of the 13 victims. The community organized to meet the demand. Residents sold over 3,000 bags of maize from their main food reserves. Trailers arrived to load the maize. Sambo explained the hardship.
He stated, “To raise the ransom, we sold over 3,000 bags of maize. When the trailers came to load the maize, everyone in the community was crying… After selling our food to pay ransom, we are now going hungry. We can no longer feed our families.”
Payment Delivered but No Release
The community delivered the full N40 million ransom promptly. However the bandits refused to free the abductees. More than two months passed since the abduction. No victims returned home.
Sambo highlighted the ongoing ordeal. He said, “It has been more than two months since they were taken. Even today, as I speak to you, none of them has returned.”
Appeal for Government Intervention
The community faced hunger and fear after the sacrifice. Residents lived in uncertainty. Sambo appealed to authorities. He noted, “We don’t know if His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, is aware of what happened to us. That is why we are appealing through the media.”
The community requested urgent action from the Kaduna State Government and Lere Local Government Council. They sought rescue operations for the victims and food assistance. The Divisional Police Officer in Lere visited the area several times. However broader government support remained necessary.
