KADUNA — A young father held captive by armed bandits in Kaduna State has issued a desperate public appeal for rescue, appearing in a video alongside his wife and their infant child.
Ahmed Zakka (also referred to in some accounts as Ahmed Abubakar from Zakka) was abducted from Millennium City in Chikun Local Government Area.
In the footage circulating widely on social media since Sunday, October 11, 2026, a visibly distressed Zakka pleads for intervention while holding the baby, with his wife beside him. The video shows the family in captivity under the control of the gunmen.
The Barrister Street Network and other accounts first amplified the clip, describing the scene as heartbreaking and noting that an entire family, including an innocent baby, remains in the hands of the bandits. Social media users and residents have urged security agencies to act swiftly.
Millennium City, a residential area on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis, has faced repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months. On the night of Monday, October 6, gunmen invaded Rahusa (or Alrahus) Estate in the same area, abducting residents that included a pregnant woman, a man, his wife, and their six-month-old baby, according to reports from the time. Separate incidents in nearby communities such as Keke have seen larger numbers taken, with ransoms demanded in the hundreds of millions of naira.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar responded to the Zakka video on Monday, October 12, calling it a painful reminder of the insecurity tearing families apart across Nigeria. “No Nigerian should have to plead for their life or the safety of their family in the hands of criminals.
The thought of an infant caught in this ordeal is especially heartbreaking,” he said. He urged security agencies to secure the safe release of the family and other captives, stressing that the government must deliver an effective response beyond assurances.
Local political figures have also raised alarm over the broader pattern. The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Kaduna, Usman Shehu Bawa, condemned earlier abductions in Millennium City and called for increased security presence, better lighting, patrols, and support for community vigilance groups.
Banditry and mass kidnappings for ransom have plagued northwestern Nigeria for years, with suburban and semi-urban communities increasingly targeted. Families often face enormous ransom demands while security responses struggle to keep pace. As of Monday morning, there was no immediate public confirmation from Kaduna State authorities or federal security agencies of a rescue operation specific to the Zakka family.
Residents and online campaigners continue to press for urgent action to free the family and address the insecurity that has left many in Millennium City living in fear.
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