Residents of Gidan Waya, a rural settlement in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have accused armed bandits of refusing to release 13 abducted villagers despite receiving a ₦40 million ransom, throwing the community into hunger and despair.

The disturbing development was disclosed on Monday by the Chairman of the Gidan Waya Elders Forum, Mallam Rabo Sambo, during a press briefing in Kaduna.

Sambo recounted that the victims were kidnapped on November 11, 2025, during a midnight raid by heavily armed men who stormed the community, shooting indiscriminately and causing panic among residents.

“We heard gunshots, and before we knew what was happening, the bandits had surrounded the settlement,” he said.

According to him, four people were killed, while five others sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to medical facilities for treatment.

He said the attackers abducted 13 villagers – comprising five men and eight women – and took them to an undisclosed location.

“This is the first time we are experiencing such an attack. We have always lived in peace here. There has never been any crisis among us,” he noted.

Sambo revealed that the bandits demanded a ₦40 million ransom in January 2026. To meet the demand, residents were forced to sell over 3,000 bags of maize, which represented the community’s entire food reserve.

He said, “When the trailers came to load the maize, everyone in the community was crying.

“After selling our food to pay ransom, we are now going hungry. We can no longer feed our families.”

Despite delivering the money immediately after it was raised, Sambo said none of the abducted villagers has been released, nearly two months after the payment.

“Even today, as I speak to you, none of them has returned,” he lamented.

We’re Living In Fear And Hunger — Elders Forum

Concerned that the Kaduna State Government and Lere Local Government Council may not be fully aware of the situation, Sambo said the elders resorted to addressing the media to seek urgent intervention.

He said, “We don’t know if His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, is aware of what happened to us. That is why we are appealing through the media.”

He acknowledged the efforts of the Divisional Police Officer in Lere, who had visited the community several times, but emphasised that more concrete action was urgently needed.

“Our people are still in captivity, and those at home are suffering. Everybody shed tears. We are living in fear, hunger and uncertainty,” he said.