Kaduna: Abducted couple, 6-month-old daughter regain freedom

An abducted couple, Ahmed Abubakar Zakka, his wife and their six-month-old daughter, Fatima, have regained their freedom after nine days in captivity, following their abduction from their home in Alrahus Estate, Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The family were reportedly abducted at about 11:30pm on October 6, with their release confirmed on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Details surrounding their release remained sketchy at the time of filing this report, including whether any ransom was paid. Blueprint reports

The kidnap incident generated widespread concern after a video of the family in captivity circulated on social media. In the approximately 40-second footage, Zakka was seen holding his crying infant while an armed man pointed a firearm at him, as his wife pleaded with the abductors.

Zakka reportedly disclosed in the video that the kidnappers demanded N300 million for the family’s release, an amount far beyond what most families could readily afford.

The development attracted particular sympathy because the couple were reportedly married for six years before the birth of their daughter. A relative described the child as especially precious to them, making the family’s ordeal even more distressing.

Their release has brought relief to relatives and sympathisers, but it has not ended concerns over the security of residents in Millennium City and neighbouring communities, where reports of kidnappings and other attacks have continued.

More families reportedly affected

The abduction of the Zakka family was not an isolated incident in the area. A pregnant woman was also reportedly abducted from a neighbouring compound, raising further concerns about the vulnerability of residents in the community.

Her husband, Abdulladir Bello, who was reportedly in Abuja when the incident occurred, said his wife called him at about 11:30pm to inform him that armed men were attempting to force their way into the house.

He reportedly attempted to contact the police but could not get through, before contacting military personnel, who subsequently deployed to the area. The abductors later demanded a ransom.

Barely five days before the Zakka family were abducted, gunmen reportedly killed a man identified as Sikiru and abducted his wife, Hafsat Sikiru, their 14-year-old son, Abdulsalam Sikiru, and six other people in the PW Babban Saura area of Kaduna state.

Reports indicated that Hafsat and her son remained in captivity, while the ransom demanded by their abductors was beyond the family’s financial capacity.

The incidents have intensified anxiety among residents, with families worried not only about the possibility of attacks but also about their ability to secure the release of relatives who are taken away.

Police operations continue as residents seek greater protection

The renewed concerns have placed the security operations around Millennium City and Maraban Rido under greater public scrutiny.

In a statement dated October 12, 2026, the Kaduna state Police Cpcommand said it had intensified clearance operations, targeted raids and patrols in the two areas in collaboration with other security agencies.

The command reported the arrest of 12 suspects, comprising eight suspected kidnappers and four alleged informants. Those named as suspected kidnappers were Dauda Murna, Usman Abdullahi, Abubakar Sulaiman, Saleh Abdullahi, Usman Muhammed, Mathias Moses, Makama John and Tafarki Audu.

The four alleged informants were identified as Shuaibu Sabiu, Audu Makama, Simon Moses and Amadu Mathew. The police also reported recovering AK-47 rifles during the operations.

According to the command, preliminary investigations indicated that two of the suspects allegedly confessed to leaking information about police operations to criminal elements. Investigations were continuing, and no confirmed link had been established between the arrested suspects and the abduction of the Zakka family.

The Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, was said to have ordered the deployment of additional tactical personnel and operational resources to strengthen security in vulnerable areas. The command also reported the provision of three additional armoured personnel carriers to support its operations.

The arrests and additional deployments demonstrate that security agencies are undertaking enforcement measures. However, the reported attacks around Millennium City raise questions about whether these interventions are translating into sufficient protection for residents, particularly at night and in communities where armed groups can gain access to homes.

The incidents do not, by themselves, establish that the ongoing operations have failed. They nevertheless underscore the need to assess security interventions not only by the number of arrests made or equipment deployed, but also by their ability to prevent attacks, improve response times and secure the release of people still held captive.

Kaduna’s peace model faces a test on the ground

The continuing kidnappings also highlight the challenge confronting Kaduna State’s broader security approach, which combines conventional enforcement with dialogue, intelligence-sharing and efforts to restore economic activities in communities affected by violence.

On the non-kinetic side, the state has promoted a peace model intended to address some of the conditions that sustain insecurity. The approach includes engagement with community leaders, socio-economic inclusion and efforts to restore access to markets, schools, healthcare and livelihoods in areas disrupted by armed groups.

At a peace journalism workshop organised by the Kaduna Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria and the state Ministry of Information, Commissioner for Information Malam Ahmed Maiyaki clarified that the government’s offer to bandits centred on access to education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities, rather than cash payments.

The state’s account of the negotiations indicated that the reopening of markets, schools and health facilities became important issues during discussions with armed group leaders. These facilities had been closed in some locations because of insecurity, disrupting education, healthcare, trade and other aspects of community life.

The government has also attributed the release of more than 500 captives to negotiations involving the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Kaduna Peace Committee, claiming that the releases were secured without ransom or the use of force.

Other reported gains include the recovery of more than 500,000 hectares of farmland and the revival of agricultural and commercial activities in parts of Giwa, Birnin Gwari and Kauru local government areas. The state has also reported the reopening of markets and the resumption of cattle transportation along routes that traders previously feared to use.

The initiative reportedly involves district heads, religious leaders and other community figures, while former bandit leaders identified as Jan Bros and Yellow One Million have been involved as peace mediators in some volatile areas.

These measures reflect the state’s position that military operations alone may not deliver lasting peace without community cooperation and efforts to restore livelihoods. They also recognise that prolonged insecurity can leave communities economically weakened and make the restoration of normal life a significant part of peacebuilding.

However, the continuing abductions around Millennium City demonstrate the difficulty of translating such gains into consistent security across affected areas. Progress reported in some local government areas does not automatically mean that residents in other communities are safe, while the release of captives through negotiations does not necessarily prevent new attacks.

The reported abduction of the Zakka family, the pregnant woman and other residents therefore presents a practical test of whether the different elements of Kaduna’s strategy are working together effectively.

Community dialogue and intelligence-sharing must help security agencies identify threats early enough to prevent attacks, while police and military operations must protect residents and disrupt criminal networks. Where negotiations have helped restore normal life, sustained monitoring is also necessary to prevent armed groups from regrouping or shifting their activities to neighbouring communities.

Kaduna has also pursued additional measures to strengthen surveillance in vulnerable areas. In August, the first batch of 1,000 forest guards graduated as part of efforts to improve intelligence gathering and monitoring in forested locations. In May, the state inaugurated a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration, Peace and Security Committee to strengthen the non-kinetic component of its response.

The effectiveness of these initiatives will ultimately be judged by the security experienced by residents: whether kidnappings decline, whether those still in captivity are rescued, whether communities can report threats and receive timely responses, and whether people can travel, farm and conduct business without persistent fear.

Residents react to recurring kidnappings

The video showing Zakka holding his crying infant while an armed man pointed a firearm at him sparked outrage on social media, with residents and other Nigerians expressing frustration over recurring kidnappings and the safety of communities in Kaduna State.

Ahmed Ibrahim questioned whether the country still had a functioning government in the face of recurring attacks, while Haruna Wayo Shagbo condemned the violence and called on government and security authorities to take stronger action against those responsible.

“This evil must be stopped. How we continue to condone these barbarism is unfortunate. Government and all responsible for security must deal with this. We have lived in denial for too long,” Shagbo wrote.

Racheal Waziri also criticised what she perceived as misplaced security priorities, alleging that the government was more interested in tracking critics than pursuing bandits.

“My problem government will never track Bandit but, they will track those criticizing them. Lord, have mercy!” she wrote.

Samaila Leeman called on Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to intensify efforts to address insecurity, describing the incident as heartbreaking and insisting that public concern over kidnappings would continue.

Timothy Bakut, who said Zakka was a former colleague at Kaduna Electric, also expressed distress over the video, particularly the sight of the infant in captivity.

The reactions reflect public anxiety over the frequency of kidnappings and calls for security measures to translate into safer homes and communities.

Atiku, El-Rufai call for stronger security response

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar called on security agencies to rescue the family and other people still held by kidnappers. He described the video as a painful reminder of the country’s insecurity and urged the authorities to move beyond assurances by taking concrete steps to rescue captives, protect vulnerable communities and dismantle criminal networks.

Atiku expressed sympathy with the family and others affected by abductions, noting the additional hardship faced by households already struggling with the cost of food, transportation and other necessities.

Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North, also raised concerns over repeated kidnappings around Millennium City, particularly in the Dan Bushiya area. He called for urgent action to rescue victims and strengthen intelligence and security in Millennium City, Malali and Unguwan Rimi.

The calls add to pressure on security agencies to demonstrate that ongoing operations and broader peace initiatives can deliver tangible protection for residents.

Release brings relief, but wider security concerns remain

The return of the Zakka family is a welcome development, particularly given the distressing video that circulated during their captivity. But the situation remains unresolved for families whose relatives are still being held by abductors and for residents who continue to fear further attacks.

The challenge before the authorities is twofold: to secure the immediate release of those still in captivity and prevent fresh abductions, while ensuring that enforcement operations and peacebuilding initiatives produce measurable improvements in the security of affected communities.

For residents of Millennium City and surrounding areas, the success of the state’s security approach will not be measured only by arrests, deployments, negotiations or the reopening of markets. It will also depend on whether families can sleep safely in their homes, whether people can respond to emergencies without being left exposed, and whether criminal groups are prevented from continuing to prey on communities.

The release of the Zakka family offers relief to one household. The reported cases around them show why sustained protection and the safe return of other captives remain urgent priorities.