Kaduna — The six-month-old daughter of Ahmed Abubakar Zakka, who was abducted alongside her parents by bandits in Kaduna State, is still alive, a family source has confirmed, dismissing circulating social media claims that the infant had died in captivity.
Ahmed Abubakar Zakka, his wife, and their baby girl, Fatima, were kidnapped on the night of October 6, 2026, when armed bandits invaded Alrahus Estate in Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The gunmen reportedly moved from house to house before breaking into the family’s residence and taking the three away. A pregnant woman was also abducted during the same raid.
In a distressing video that went viral, Zakka is seen holding the crying, unclothed infant while an armed man points a firearm at him. His wife sits nearby as the couple plead for help. Speaking in Hausa, Zakka identified himself and said the bandits were demanding ₦300 million as ransom for their release.
“My name is Ahmed Abubakar Zakka. I’m seeking assistance. I was abducted on Monday around 11:30pm, myself, wife and our daughter at Millennium City. Please, we are seeking assistance because they are demanding N300 million. In the name of God, we are seeking assistance,” he said in the footage.
A subsequent video showed Zakka expressing fear that his swollen and numb right hand — tightly bound by the captors — might be cut off if help did not arrive quickly.
On Thursday, October 15, 2026, a family source speaking to Daily Trust firmly rejected reports of the baby’s death. “It’s not true. The baby is alive, and she is fine. This is all I can tell you,” the source said, while appealing for prayers for the family’s safe return.
Relatives have described the couple as both orphans who waited six years after marriage before the birth of Fatima. The abduction and the videos have sparked widespread public outrage, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the family and other captives held by bandits.
As of the latest reports, the family remains in captivity, and there has been no official confirmation of their release or further details from the Kaduna State Police Command.
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