Speaking to journalists on Friday, the traditional ruler said the attackers stormed Kuyambana between 11am and noon, firing sporadically before moving from house to house.
The village head of Kuyambana community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr. Zaka Paul, has raised the alarm over the continued detention of nine villagers by bandits, despite the payment of a ₦30 million ransom delivered more than a month ago.
Paul said the bandits abducted 10 residents of the community during a violent raid on October 23, 2025, but only one of the victims, a woman, managed to escape, leaving nine others, including his younger brother, in captivity.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, the traditional ruler said the attackers stormed Kuyambana between 11am and noon, firing sporadically before moving from house to house.
“They first came to my house and started knocking aggressively,” Paul said. “When I asked who they were, they began insulting me in Hausa, shouting ‘Dan Ubanka, open the door!’ I managed to escape through the back door, but they took my younger brother and nine other people from the village.”
According to him, the abductors later contacted the community and initially demanded ₦100 million for the release of the victims. After negotiations, the ransom was reduced to ₦30 million.
Paul said the ransom was personally delivered by him to the bandits’ commander, popularly known as “Yellow Mai 1 Million,” on December 22, 2025, at Idon area near Kabudu Forest in Kachia Local Government Area of the state.
However, instead of releasing the captives, the bandits allegedly imposed fresh conditions.
"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; and seven Boko Haram bikes,” he said.
The village head said the community and families of the victims were financially exhausted, having sold off food produce and other belongings to raise the initial ransom.
“So, we have no means for such an amount of money. The money that was paid, the N30 million Naira that was paid, we had to even resort to contribution and even selling our farm produce before we raised that amount,” he said.
The abducted villagers were identified as Anthony Gambo (37), Sule Sogiji Maigari (53), Makuka Joshua (30), Regina Nehemiah (26), Bako Bagobiri (26), Solomon Barnabas (28), Lamech Ishaku (22), Kabiru Ishaku (21), and Kaninzu Maitala (21). Paul noted that at least three of the victims are young orphans.
He said the captives are being held around Idon in Kachia LGA, an area he described as a known bandit hideout.
Paul appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and the Kauru Local Government authorities to urgently intervene, warning that the lives of the captives were in danger.
"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,” he said.
He said the incident had been reported to the police, the military, traditional rulers, and political leaders in the area, but no concrete action had yielded results.
Explaining why the community delayed going public, Paul said they initially believed compliance with the bandits’ demands would lead to the safe release of the victims.
"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,” he said.
"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 added.
"Three of the kidnapped persons are young and are orphans.”