Kaduna community sells 3,000 bags of Maize to raise N40m ransom, yet victims still in captivity<\/p>\n
Elders of Gidan Waya community in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State have revealed that they sold more than 3,000 bags of maize to raise N40 million demanded by kidnappers, yet 13 abducted villagers remain in captivity weeks after the ransom was paid.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, Chairman of the Elders Forum, Mallam Rabo Sambo, recounted how gunmen stormed the community late at night on November 11, 2025, killing four residents and abducting 13 others, five men and eight women.<\/p>\n
According to Sambo, the attack happened between 11 p.m. and midnight when residents were already asleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said four people were killed during the attack, while five others sustained gunshot injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time we are experiencing something like this. We have always lived in peace here. There has never been any crisis among us,\u201d Sambo added.<\/p>\n
The elder explained that the attackers could not be identified as they wore masks during the operation.<\/p>\n
In January 2026, the kidnappers reportedly contacted the community and demanded N40 million for the release of the victims. Sambo said the community painfully mobilised the money by selling its food reserves.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo 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. As soon as we got the money, it was taken straight to the kidnappers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Despite paying the ransom, the abducted villagers have not been released.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been three months since they were taken. Even today, as I speak to you, none of them has returned,\u201d Sambo lamented.<\/p>\n
The elder said the community decided to speak out publicly because they were unsure whether the Kaduna State Government or the Lere Local Government Council had been fully briefed about their ordeal.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t know if His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, is aware of what happened to us, or even our local government chairman. That is why we are appealing through the media,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While acknowledging the efforts of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Lere, who reportedly visited the community several times after the attack, Sambo appealed for urgent intervention from the state and federal governments.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are calling on the state government, the local government, and Governor Uba Sani to please help us secure the release of our people. We also want the governor to reach out to the federal government for assistance,\u201d he appealed.<\/p>\n
Beyond the trauma of the abduction, the community now faces hunger after selling off its grain reserves.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter selling our food to pay ransom, we are now going hungry. We can no longer feed our families,\u201d Sambo said, calling on the government to provide food support while the community awaits the return of their kidnapped relatives.<\/p>\n
He described the situation as heartbreaking, noting that the entire community has been thrown into mourning, fear, and uncertainty.
\n\u201cEverybody shed tears. We are suffering, and our people are still in captivity,\u201d he said.(Daily Sun)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kaduna community sells 3,000 bags of Maize to raise N40m ransom, yet victims still in captivity Elders of Gidan Waya community in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State have revealed that they sold more than 3,000 bags of maize to raise N40 million demanded by kidnappers, yet 13 abducted villagers remain in captivity weeks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[123,2693,2694],"class_list":{"0":"post-149813","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-others","7":"tag-kaduna-state","8":"tag-mallam-rabo-sambo","9":"tag-payment-of-ransom"},"yoast_head":"\n