Residents of Gadanaji community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State have appealed to the government for urgent intervention following a N10 million ransom demand by abductors holding 11 kidnapped residents captive.
The victims were abducted during a midnight raid on April 9, 2026, when heavily armed bandits invaded the community, killed one resident and kidnapped 11 others, including women and children.
The village head of Gadanaji, Mr Adamu Tanko, said the community could not afford to raise such an amount and appealed to the abductors to reduce the ransom demand.
According to him, “The affected people kidnapped have been with their abductors for a long time. We are appealing to them to please help us reduce the ransom needed so that the people in captivity will regain their freedom.”
Another resident and community leader, Samaila Thomas, who also spoke with DAILY POST, called on government authorities, security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene, saying the affected families could not afford the ransom demanded by the abductors.
According to him, “The abductors had already contacted families of the victims and were insisting on N10 million before their release.”
He added, “We are farmers who hardly realise any substantial amount at the end of the year for us to raise N10 million ransom to release our beloved mothers, brothers, sisters and children from captivity. We have been appealing to the kidnappers to please consider us and see the situation we are in. That is why we are appealing to government and individuals to lend a helping hand to be able to rescue our people.”
Thomas also expressed concern over growing fear in the community, stressing that several families had fled to neighbouring villages over fears of another attack.
He explained that residents were living in fear, adding that many families had abandoned the community because they feared the bandits might return.
The development has heightened concerns over worsening insecurity in rural communities across Kaduna State, where bandit attacks and mass abductions have become frequent.
The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for comment on the development in the community.
