Kaduna: Widow, son remain in captivity after 3 weeks

Hafsat Sikiru and her 14-year-old son, Abdulsalam Sikiru, were abducted during an armed attack in Babban Saura PW, Kaduna State. The attack happened on October 1, 2026. Their case matters because the abduction followed the killing of Hafsat’s husband, leaving the family facing both bereavement and prolonged captivity.

The victims were taken from their home. Hafsat’s husband tried to protect his family, but the bandits killed him. The abductors later contacted the family. Other residents were also taken during the same attack, although the article does not give their number.

Three weeks later, Hafsat and Abdulsalam remained in captivity. Their family appealed to the government and security agencies to secure their release. Relatives said the prolonged ordeal had caused trauma and sleeplessness. They were relying on prayers and hoping authorities would rescue the victims and reunite them with their family.

A bandit, in the context of this report, is an armed criminal involved in violent attacks, killings, and abductions. The term describes people or groups who use force against civilians rather than operating as lawful security personnel. Their actions create fear and prevent families from feeling safe in their homes.

The article identifies bandits as the attackers who entered Babban Saura PW on October 1, 2026. They killed Hafsat Sikiru’s husband when he tried to protect his family. They also abducted Hafsat, her 14-year-old son Abdulsalam, and other residents. The bandits later contacted the victims’ family.

The word does not identify a formal organisation or provide details about the attackers’ structure. In this case, it points to the armed group responsible for the violence and captivity. The family’s appeal focuses on government and security action to rescue those still held.

The mother and son had been in captivity for three weeks when Daily Trust reported their situation. They were abducted on October 1, 2026, during an attack on their community in Babban Saura PW. The length of their captivity shows that the family’s crisis continued well after the initial violence.

The same attack also affected other residents. The article says the family appealed for the release of Hafsat, Abdulsalam, and other people abducted from the community. However, it does not provide a total number for those additional victims. That missing figure means the scale of the attack cannot be calculated from the report.

The family said the prolonged captivity had caused trauma and sleeplessness. The bandits had contacted the family, but the victims were still being held. Relatives therefore urged authorities to intensify efforts to rescue everyone abducted and reunite them with their families.

Hafsat Sikiru’s husband was killed during the bandit attack in Babban Saura PW. He was trying to protect his family when the attackers killed him. His death turned the incident into both a kidnapping crisis and a family bereavement, with his wife and son still missing afterward.

The consequences were especially severe for the household. Hafsat became a widow, while 14-year-old Abdulsalam was left fatherless. Both were then held in captivity in the forest, according to a family member quoted in the report. The family also worried about the conditions in which they were being kept.

Relatives said they struggled to sleep and could not find peace while the victims remained captive. They appealed to government authorities and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts. Their central hope was to see Hafsat and Abdulsalam released and reunited with their family.

The family is appealing to the government and security agencies because Hafsat Sikiru, her son Abdulsalam, and other residents remain in captivity. The bandits contacted the family, but the victims had not been released three weeks after the attack. Relatives said the prolonged ordeal caused trauma, worry, and sleeplessness.

The article specifically calls for authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the victims. In an abduction case, relevant authorities can coordinate security work, gather information about the victims’ whereabouts, seek their safe release, and reunite them with relatives. The report does not describe a specific rescue operation or negotiation plan.

Official action matters because the family says it cannot secure the victims’ freedom alone. Its members were relying on prayers while hoping for government intervention. The immediate goal is the safe release of Hafsat, Abdulsalam, and other abducted residents, followed by support for families affected by the attack.

Insecurity has become a major concern in parts of Kaduna because communities continue to face violent attacks and abductions. The article describes a renewed concern around Millennium City and its environs. It also reports the kidnapping of Hafsat Sikiru, her son, and other residents in Babban Saura PW.

The report gives recent examples rather than a full history of the problem. On October 1, bandits attacked the Sikiru family’s community, killed Hafsat’s husband, and abducted civilians. On October 6, Ahmed Abubakar Zakka, his wife, and their six-month-old daughter were abducted from Millennium City. They regained their freedom on October 15.

The article does not explain the broader historical causes of kidnapping across northwestern Nigeria. It shows the immediate reality: repeated abductions create fear and keep insecurity in public focus. Continued attacks would increase pressure on authorities to improve protection and rescue efforts.

Kidnapping affects more than the people taken. It leaves relatives facing fear, uncertainty, and emotional trauma while they wait for news. Families may struggle to sleep and may feel that their homes and communities no longer provide safety. The article describes exactly these effects after the Kaduna attack.

Hafsat’s family lost her husband when he tried to protect them. Hafsat and her 14-year-old son, Abdulsalam, were then abducted and held for three weeks. A family member said relatives were traumatised and worried about the conditions in which the victims were being held. Other residents were also abducted from the community.

Such incidents can weaken confidence in everyday life and make people fear further attacks, although the article does not measure these wider effects. The family’s immediate need is the victims’ safe release. It appealed for stronger official efforts to rescue those held and restore families’ sense of security.