A woman and her first son, Joshua, who were abducted by bandits in Kaduna State, have been killed while in captivity.
The woman was reportedly kidnapped in December 2025 from Bayan Dutse, Narayi, in Kaduna South Local Government Area. According to reports, the abductors demanded a ransom that her family and members of the community could not afford.
A community member identified as Noble disclosed the incident in a Facebook post on Saturday, July 4, 2026. He said the family struggled to raise the demanded ransom within the deadline set by the kidnappers.
Joshua later volunteered to deliver the amount the family was able to raise, hoping to negotiate his mother’s release.
However, upon arriving at the kidnappers’ hideout, he reportedly discovered that his mother had already died in captivity.
Despite this, the kidnappers allegedly collected the ransom, detained Joshua and tortured him to death.
Expressing grief over the incident, Noble called on the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to ensure justice is served.
“We write with deep sorrow over the tragic loss of a beloved mother and her firstborn son, victims of the growing insecurity and kidnapping crisis affecting communities in Kaduna State,” he said.
He described the deceased woman as a kind, cheerful and compassionate member of her community whose abduction came as a devastating shock to her family, friends and neighbours.
According to him, the kidnappers demanded a ransom far beyond the family’s financial capacity, and despite desperate efforts, they were unable to raise the required amount on time.
“In an effort to save his mother, her firstborn son courageously undertook the responsibility of delivering the funds in the hope of negotiating her release. Tragically, upon arrival, he discovered that his mother had already lost her life while in captivity,” Noble stated.
He added that Joshua was subsequently held captive by the kidnappers, who allegedly subjected him to further abuse.
“The family endured additional anguish as they received distressing communications regarding his condition. Sadly, he also lost his life, leaving behind a grieving wife and children,” he said.
Describing the incident as a reflection of the worsening insecurity in the state, Noble urged the authorities to intensify efforts to tackle kidnapping and violent crime.
He specifically called on Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Armed Forces to investigate the incident and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
“This cannot become normal. It must stop,” he added.
