Abducted Mother Dies in Captivity as Son Is Allegedly Killed After Delivering Ransom in Kaduna

By Tgnews Reporter

A wave of grief has swept through a Kaduna community following the tragic deaths of a kidnapped woman and her firstborn son, in a heartbreaking incident that has renewed concerns over the escalating insecurity and kidnapping crisis in parts of northern Nigeria.

The woman, whose identity had not been officially released at the time of filing this report, was reportedly abducted by armed bandits in December 2025 from the Bayan Dutse area of Narayi in Kaduna South Local Government Area.

According to community sources, her abductors demanded a ransom far beyond what her family and neighbours could afford, leaving relatives scrambling for months to secure her release.

A resident identified as Noble, who shared details of the incident on social media and was familiar with the family’s ordeal, said repeated efforts to raise the required ransom proved unsuccessful within the deadline set by the kidnappers.

In a desperate attempt to save his mother, her firstborn son, Joshua, reportedly volunteered to deliver the funds the family had managed to gather, hoping to negotiate her freedom.

However, what began as a mission of hope ended in tragedy.

According to accounts from the community, Joshua arrived at the kidnappers’ hideout only to discover that his mother had already died while in captivity.

The devastating revelation was reportedly followed by another nightmare. After collecting the ransom, the kidnappers allegedly seized Joshua and held him captive.

Community members said the family later received distressing information about his condition before learning that he, too, had died while in the hands of his captors.

“The woman was known in the community as a cheerful, compassionate and caring person whose presence touched many lives,” Noble said in a statement.

“After months of trying to secure her release, the family could not meet the ransom demands. Her son bravely took responsibility for delivering the money they had raised, only to find out that his mother had already died. Tragically, he was also taken and never returned home.”

The double tragedy has left the family shattered, with Joshua reportedly leaving behind a wife and children.

Residents described the incident as one of the most heartbreaking cases to emerge from the area in recent months, highlighting the human cost of the region’s persistent insecurity.

Community leaders and concerned citizens have called on security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for kidnappings across the state.

Appeals have also been directed to Uba Sani, as well as the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces, urging authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and strengthen measures to protect vulnerable communities.

“This cannot become normal,” Noble said. “Families should not have to endure this level of pain and loss. Those responsible must be found and held accountable.”

The incident adds to a growing list of kidnapping-related tragedies that have plagued communities in Kaduna and other parts of the North-West, where residents continue to face threats from armed criminal groups despite ongoing security operations.

As of the time of this report, security authorities had not issued an official statement on the alleged killings.

For the bereaved family and their community, however, the loss of both mother and son remains a painful reminder of the devastating toll insecurity continues to exact on ordinary Nigerians.