A couple abducted alongside their six-month-old daughter from their residence in Millennium City, Kaduna State, have appealed to security agencies and the public to help secure their release after their captors reportedly demanded ₦300 million ransom.
The victims, identified as Ahmed Abubakar Zakka, his wife and their baby girl, Fatima, were abducted on Monday at about 11:30 p.m., according to a video that has gone viral on social media.
In the 40-second video, Zakka is seen holding the crying infant while his wife sits beside him. One of the kidnappers is seen pointing a gun at him as he appeals for assistance in Hausa.
“My name is Ahmed Abubakar Zakka. I’m seeking assistance. I was abducted on Monday around 11:30 pm, myself, my wife and our daughter at Millennium City. Please, we are seeking assistance because they are demanding N300 million. In the name of God, we are seeking assistance,” he said.
His wife could also be heard pleading for their lives in the distressing footage.
Couple Welcomed First Child After Six Years
A family member, who requested anonymity, said Zakka and his wife had been married for six years without a child before welcoming their daughter, Fatima, six months ago.
According to the relative, both victims lost their parents before getting married and had relocated to Millennium City about a year ago.
“We grew up together in my family house and stayed together during our teenage years. We are pleading with the authorities to help secure their release unharmed,” the family member said.
The abduction has heightened concerns over the safety of residents in Millennium City and surrounding communities on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis.
Pregnant Woman Also Abducted
The assailants also reportedly abducted a pregnant woman whose husband, Abdulkadir Bello, was in Abuja when the incident occurred.
Bello said his wife called him at about 11:30 p.m. to report that some people were attempting to force their way into their compound.
He said he tried contacting the police but could not get through before reaching out to the military, which deployed personnel to the area.
Bello later confirmed that the attackers had taken his wife and contacted him to demand a ransom.
The latest incident comes days after gunmen reportedly killed a man identified as Sikiru in the PW Babban Saura area and abducted his wife, Hafsat, their 14-year-old son, Abdulsalam, and six other people.
The victims’ family members are reportedly still in captivity, with the abductors demanding a substantial ransom.
Atiku Calls for Swift Rescue
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on security agencies to act swiftly to rescue Zakka, his wife, their infant daughter and other Nigerians being held captive.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), described the viral video in a Facebook post as a painful reminder of the insecurity affecting families across the country.
“No Nigerian should have to plead for their life or the safety of their family in the hands of criminals. The thought of an infant caught in this ordeal is especially heartbreaking,” he said.
He urged security agencies to take decisive action to secure the victims’ safe release and protect other people held by kidnappers.
Atiku also linked the growing insecurity to the economic difficulties facing Nigerian households, noting that kidnapping adds emotional and financial burdens to families already struggling with rising living costs.
He called on the government to move beyond assurances and sustain efforts to rescue abducted persons, protect vulnerable communities and dismantle criminal networks.
Amnesty International Warns of Insecurity
Amnesty International Nigeria has warned that residents of Millennium City are living under persistent fear amid repeated attacks and abductions.
In a post on X, the organisation said armed men operated in the area at different times of the day, adding that kidnappings had increased in Millennium City and neighbouring communities.
It cited an attack in the Kyauta area on August 19, during which gunmen reportedly abducted more than a dozen people.
The organisation also noted that some residents were forming local vigilante groups for protection, while others were abandoning their homes to seek safety elsewhere.
Amnesty International said the recurring killings and abductions, alongside what it described as the authorities’ failure to end the attacks and bring suspected perpetrators to justice, posed a threat to residents’ right to life.
Police Arrest 12 Suspects, Recover AK-47 Rifles
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command has announced the arrest of 12 suspects, comprising eight alleged kidnappers and four suspected informants, during security operations in Millennium City and Maraban Rido.
The police also reported recovering AK-47 rifles during the operations, which were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies.
In a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the arrests followed intensified clearance operations, targeted raids and patrols in response to recent security challenges.
Hassan identified the eight suspected kidnappers as Dauda Murna, Usman Abdullahi, Abubakar Sulaiman, Saleh Abdullahi, Usman Muhammed, Mathias Moses, Makama John and Tafarki Audu.
The four suspected informants were identified as Shuaibu Sabiu, Audu Makama, Simon Moses and Amadu Mathew.
According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigations indicated that two of the suspects allegedly confessed to leaking information about police operations to criminal elements.
He said investigations were continuing to establish the extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement, identify other accomplices and prosecute those found culpable.
The police also disclosed that the Kaduna State Government had provided three additional armoured personnel carriers to strengthen security operations in Millennium City and surrounding communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, ordered the deployment of additional tactical personnel, operational vehicles and other security resources to improve surveillance and response times.
Rabiu urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station, while appealing for cooperation with security agencies.
As the search for the abducted couple, their six-month-old daughter and other victims continues, their families are appealing for urgent intervention to ensure their safe return.
