A family in Adamawa State has been plunged into despair after enduring an 11-day kidnapping ordeal, during which they were forced to sell virtually all their possessions to meet a crippling ₦7 million ransom demand. The incident highlights the escalating insecurity and fear gripping communities in the state.
Midnight Raid and Forest Captivity
The nightmare began around midnight in the Kirchinga community of Madagali Local Government Area. An anonymous victim, speaking to our correspondent, described the terrifying moment armed men stormed his home. "We were at home around 12 a.m. when we heard footsteps within the house," he recounted. "When I went out to check, a gun was pointed at me. I was instructed not to talk or shout, because if I did, they would kidnap and kill everyone in my house."
Complying to protect his family, the man was taken. To his horror, as they left the community, the kidnappers brought forward three more captives: his two sons and his uncle. Despite promises that his relatives would be released in the forest, they were all held together. The family spent a grueling 11 days in the forest with their captors.
Financial Ruin and Physical Injury
From their forest hideout, the kidnappers made contact with the victim's family, issuing a steep demand. They called my family and demanded a sum of N7 million, including other items that are numerous in number, which almost filled a truck, the victim stated.
Faced with an impossible sum, the family was forced into drastic action. "We don't have such an amount of money," he lamented. "My family had to sell all of our assets just to make sure we meet their demand. Our farmlands, our food items, and other investments were all sold out just to raise the amount they demanded." The financial devastation was compounded by physical violence, as the victim sustained a leg injury during the captivity.
He expressed deep fear of the kidnappers, noting their unfamiliar and frightening demeanor. "I have never seen those kinds of people in my entire life; their tone is different from ours, it's scary," he said.
Plea for Help Amid Security Vacuum
The victim, who is also a public official, revealed a complete absence of government intervention or adequate local security. "The government has not intervened in any way. We don't have strong security in our community to help us in such moments," he disclosed.
This sentiment echoes growing concerns in Kirchinga and surrounding areas, where residents believe attacks are coordinated. Criminals appear to target relatively affluent families and demand consistent ransom amounts, suggesting detailed knowledge of the communities. The pervasive fear has created an atmosphere of constant anxiety.
"We are living in deep fear of the unknown; each day and night we pray to God to help us and save us," the victim confessed. He ended with a desperate appeal: "I'm pleading to the government, non-governmental organisations, and the entire public to come to our aid and to put us in prayer every day. We need protection."
Related Violence in the Community
This kidnapping is not an isolated event. In a related and tragic incident reported on November 28, 2025, a former Madagali local government councillor, Shamalsinmi Umaru, was shot dead at his home in Kirchinga. During that attack, unknown gunmen abducted his two sons, also demanding a ₦7 million ransom. These back-to-back tragedies have heightened the state of terror and helplessness among residents, who feel abandoned by the systems meant to protect them.
