Atiku Demands Swift Rescue as Bandits Hold Ahmed Zakka, Wife, and Infant as Hostage in Kaduna
Abuja/Kaduna—October 12, 2026—Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strong call for urgent action following the abduction of Ahmed Zakka, his wife and their infant child by armed bandits in Kaduna State, describing a circulating video of the family in captivity as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity crisis.
In a statement posted on X, Atiku said no Nigerian should be forced to plead for their life or the safety of their family at the hands of criminals.
He singled out the presence of the infant in the ordeal as especially heartbreaking and urged security agencies to act swiftly and decisively to secure the safe release of the Zakka family and all other captives still held across the country.
The Abduction and Viral Video
Ahmed Zakka (also identified in some accounts as Ahmed Abubakar from Zakka in Katsina State) was seized along with his wife, Nafisa Musa, and their roughly seven-month-old baby girl from their home in the Millennium City / Alrahus Estate area of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna. Armed men invaded the residential estate, moving from house to house.
The family was taken into the bush, where a video later emerged showing the distressed couple and infant under the watch of gunmen.
Reports indicate the attackers have demanded a substantial ransom, with figures circulating in the hundreds of millions of naira.
The video has triggered widespread outrage online, with many Nigerians expressing horror that a nursing mother and young baby are being held in such conditions.
Atiku Links Insecurity to Economic Hardship
Atiku stressed that the tragedy comes at a time when Nigerian families are already struggling under the crushing cost of living.
Rising prices of food, transport, and other essentials have placed heavy pressure on households, he noted, adding that citizens should not also have to live in constant fear of being abducted in their homes or on the roads.
“Insecurity deepens hardship, disrupts livelihoods, and leaves families bearing both emotional and financial burdens they can scarcely afford,” the former Vice President said.
He called on the government to move beyond assurances and deliver an effective, sustained response: rescue those in captivity, protect vulnerable communities, and dismantle the criminal networks responsible for the attacks.
Broader Context of Kaduna Insecurity
The Zakka abduction is the latest in a series of attacks in and around Kaduna, where bandits have repeatedly targeted residential estates and communities.
Similar incidents in recent weeks have involved the kidnapping of pregnant women, children, and other residents, heightening public anxiety. Residents and observers have repeatedly called for stronger protection of urban outskirts and rural areas that have become vulnerable to night raids.
Atiku concluded by expressing thoughts and prayers for the Zakka family and all others enduring the trauma of kidnapping.
He insisted that the protection of every Nigerian life must remain an overriding responsibility of government.
As of Monday morning, there was no immediate public confirmation from security agencies of a rescue operation or breakthrough in negotiations. Public pressure continues to mount for the safe return of the young family.
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