A heart-wrenching tale of hope and tragedy has finally come to an end for the people of Gidan Waya community in Kaduna State. After a harrowing ordeal that lasted over four months, the 13 kidnapped villagers, including five men and eight women, have been released by their captors. The ordeal began on November 11, 2025, when bandits stormed the community, leaving four residents dead and taking the 13 villagers hostage.
In an effort to secure their release, the community's elders turned to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for help, and they were forced to pay a staggering N40 million ransom to the kidnappers. Tragically, even after the ransom was paid, the victims remained in captivity for weeks. Chairman of the Elders Forum, Mallam Rabo Sambo, explained that the community had to sell over 3,000 bags of maize just to come up with the demanded amount, but to no avail.
It wasn't until March 29, 2026, that the villagers finally regained their freedom, but unfortunately, the experience came at a great cost. Two of the captives, Mallam Ibrahim Bagobari and Mr. Habib, lost their lives during their ordeal. The community's leader, Dan Azumi Meshach, expressed gratitude for the release of the remaining victims but also expressed sadness at the loss of life. "We give thanks to God for the release of our people, though
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