Families in Fear as Kidnapped Women Cry Out for Help in Northwest Nigeria -

Tension and sorrow have gripped several communities in Northwest Nigeria after distressing videos surfaced online showing abducted women pleading for rescue following weeks in captivity.

The videos, which began circulating widely on February 22, are believed to feature victims kidnapped while travelling along the highway between Zamfara State and Sokoto State—a route many locals rely on daily but which has become increasingly dangerous due to repeated bandit attacks.

In one of the clips, a woman identified as Maryam, said to be a schoolteacher, spoke tearfully, appealing to authorities and the public to come to their aid. She explained that she and others had been held for more than a month in difficult conditions, far from their families who have not heard from them since the abduction.

Another victim, identified as Abba, appeared injured and weak in a separate video, deepening fears about the health and safety of those still in captivity.

Sources familiar with the situation say the kidnappers are demanding ₦5 million for each hostage—an amount many families cannot afford. Relatives are reportedly scrambling for help, selling belongings and reaching out to friends and community members in desperate efforts to raise funds.

Residents say the incident is part of a wider pattern of violence that has plagued parts of Zamfara in recent months, where attacks on villages have left many dead and others abducted. For people who depend on the affected roads for trade, school, and family visits, the fear of travelling has become a daily reality.

Community leaders describe the emotional toll as overwhelming. Many families are said to be living in constant anxiety, holding prayer sessions and leaning on neighbours for comfort while waiting for news of their loved ones.

“This is not just news to us—it is personal,” one local resident said. “These are mothers, teachers, and workers who were simply trying to move from one place to another. Now their families are left in pain and uncertainty.”

Despite ongoing security operations across the Northwest, kidnappings and raids continue to disrupt normal life, with citizens repeatedly calling for stronger protection and safer highways.

As the videos continue to spread, Nigerians across the country have expressed sympathy and outrage, urging authorities to act swiftly to rescue the victims and bring those responsible to justice.

For the families, however, the focus remains simple and urgent: they just want their loved ones back home alive.