TRAVAILS OF KADUNA VILLAGE HEAD: Despite paying millions in ransom, ten relatives still in captivity

*Narrates encounter with bandits’ leader, ‘Yellow Mai 1 Million’

IDIBIA GABRIEL, KADUNA

The village head of Kuyambana community in Kauru local government area of Kaduna State, Mr. Zakka Paul has raised an alarm of the abduction of 10 people in their community including his younger brother but one of the kidnapped victims later escaped.

He however lamented that the bandits refused to release the 9 remaining kidnapped victims after collecting N30 million ransom contributed by community and families of the victims since 22nd December when the money was delivered to the terror group leader, begging for government intervention.

The village head gave names of those kidnapped as Anthony Gambo 37years, Sule Sogiji Maigari 53 year, Makuka Joshua 30 years (F), Regina Nehemiah (f) 26years, Bako Bagobiri 26years, Solomon Barnabas 28years, Lamech Ishaku 22 years, Kabiru Ishaku 21years, Kaninzu Maitala 21 years respectively.

He told our correspondent in an interview that the kidnappers invaded the community around 12am shooting sporadically before knocking on the doors of their victims.

According to (Dakacen Kuyambana) Geshere district, was the first target of the bandits who stormed his residence, saying he managed to escape through an exit door on hearing their knocks and voices.

He said after he escaped through exit back door, the bandits kidnapped his younger brother and 9 others, men and women and took them away to Idon, around Kabudu forest, Kachia LGA of Kaduna state where the victims are kept.

Zaka Paul said the N30 million ransom was personally delivered to the bandits’ leader popularly known as ‘Yellow Mai 1 Million’, at Idon area by himself on 22nd December 2025, about two months after the abduction of the victims on the 23rd October 2025.

He expressed dismay that bandits refused to release his brother and 8 others since December 22nd when the ransom was paid, adding that, instead of freeing the victims, the bandits are demanding for additional N20 million and 7 motorbikes which cost N2.2 million each.

The village head strongly appealed to Federal Government, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and Local government chairman to come to their aid, saying they sold off all their produce, to pay the ransom and are now hungry, talk more of meeting the additional demands.

He said the incident was reported to the police, the army and other political leaders and traditional rulers in the area but could not do much to help in securing the victims release still now prompting them talking to newsmen to help reach Governor Uba Sani to assist them from bandits’ captivity.

His words, “Yes, my name is Zaka Paul. I am the village head of Kuyambana in Geshere district in Kumama Chiefdom, Kauru local government area of Kaduna State.

“On the 23rd of October 2025, the bandits, that is kidnappers invaded our community. They came and they kidnapped 10 people, two women and then seven men. One woman escaped on the way.

“When they came, they first came to my house and they were knocking. I asked them, who are you? They now started insulting me.”Dan’ Ubanka”, open the door! In Hausa language.

“So, I was able to narrowly escape, but they kidnapped my younger brother and others in my village”, he explained.

He said few days after the bandits called him, and demanded for N100 million ransom in order for them to be released from captivity, adding that they later bargained and finally settled at N30 million.

“On the 22nd of December 2025, the money was delivered to the kidnappers. But still they have not released our people, and they are still asking for N20 million Naira; and seven Boko Haram bikes.

“So, we have no means for such an amount of money. The money that was paid, the N30 million that was paid, we had to even resort to contribution and even selling our farm produce before we raised that amount.

“And so, we are here pleading, appealing to the state government, federal government, and the local government to come to our help by

intervening to secure the release of our people who are in the hands of the kidnappers in the bush.

“And they are around Kachia local government in a place called Idon, particularly Kabudu forest where we give them the ransom, to the commander of the kidnappers who gives his name “Yellow Mai 1 million”.

“They’re even boasting that there is no government that can even rescue the people from their hands.

Kachia local government in around a place called idon, particularly in Kachia.

“So we are calling for concerted efforts from the government and the security agencies to

ensure that there is a coordinated effort to ensure the release of our people.

“The police are fully aware, together with the soldiers that are in our area, the traditional rulers, the local government Chairman, they are all aware, but to no avail”, he narrated

On why it took them this long time to take the measure of informing newsmen, Zaka Paul explained that they thought that following their demand peacefully, and paying the ransom, will help in amicable release of the victims safely.