Elders of Gidan Waya community in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for urgent intervention, lamenting that 13 villagers abducted by terrorists remain in captivity despite the payment of a ₦40 million ransom.
The community leaders disclosed that residents were forced to sell more than 3,000 bags of maize to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers, yet weeks after the money was delivered, the victims have not been released.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Kaduna on Monday, Chairman of the Elders Forum, Mallam Rabo Sambo, narrated that the attack occurred late on the night of November 11, 2025, when armed men invaded the community, killing four people and abducting 13 others, made up of five men and eight women.
Sambo explained that the assailants struck between 11 p.m. and midnight while residents were asleep.
“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,” he said.
According to him, four residents lost their lives during the attack, while five others suffered gunshot wounds.
He further revealed a disturbing development, saying, “We just received a report from the bandits that a pregnant woman among those kidnapped has given birth in their custody,” adding, “Her husband was among those killed during the incident.”
Describing the incident as unprecedented in the history of the community, Sambo said, “This is the first time we have experienced something like this. We have always lived in peace here. There has never been any crisis among us.”
He noted that the identities of the attackers could not be determined because they wore masks throughout the operation.
Sambo said the kidnappers re-established contact with the community in January 2026, demanding ₦40 million for the release of the abducted villagers, a sum the community struggled to raise by selling its food reserves.
“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. As soon as we got the money, it was taken straight to the kidnappers,” he said.
However, despite complying with the ransom demand, the victims are still being held.
“It has been three weeks since they were taken. Even today, as I speak to you, none of them has returned,” Sambo lamented.
He explained that the elders decided to go public with their ordeal because they were uncertain whether the Kaduna State Government or the Lere Local Government Council had been fully informed.
“We don’t know whether 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,” he said.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Divisional Police Officer in Lere, who he said visited the community several times after the attack, Sambo stressed the need for stronger intervention from both the state and federal governments.
“We are calling on the President, 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,” he appealed.
Beyond the emotional toll, Sambo said the community is now battling hunger after selling off its grain reserves to meet the ransom demand.
“After selling our food to pay the ransom, we are now going hungry. We can no longer feed our families,” he said, appealing to the government for immediate food assistance while they await the safe return of their abducted relatives.
He described the situation as devastating, saying the entire community remains trapped in grief, fear, and uncertainty.
“Everybody shed tears. We are suffering, and our people are still in captivity,” he said.
