Children of the brother-in-law of Gurara TV Chief Executive Officer and Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate for Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency, Ernest Thyek Maidawa, have remained in captivity for about two weeks following their abduction from their residence in the Rimi area of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The children were reportedly abducted by armed men who invaded the family’s residence and took them away, leaving relatives and members of the community deeply concerned about their safety.
Family sources said the victims had spent approximately 14 days in captivity as of Thursday, with efforts reportedly ongoing to secure their release.
The development has renewed concerns over the worsening kidnapping situation in Kaduna State, particularly as the family continues to await the safe return of the children.
The abductors have reportedly contacted the family and demanded N100 million as ransom for the victims’ release.
The suspected kidnappers were reportedly identified by the family as Fulani, although there has been no public confirmation from security authorities establishing the identities of those responsible for the abduction.
The father of the abducted children is said to be a serving Nigerian Air Force personnel, a development that has further heightened concern surrounding the incident and renewed questions about the ability of security agencies to protect families even where there are links to personnel in the nation’s security architecture.
Despite the prolonged captivity, the Kaduna State Government and relevant security authorities had not, as of the time of filing this report, issued a detailed public statement confirming the abduction or providing information on efforts to locate and rescue the victims.
The absence of an official update has reportedly caused anxiety among relatives and residents of the affected community, with calls for authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ safe release.
Maidawa, who is contesting the 2027 House of Representatives election for Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency on the platform of the APM, has also not publicly disclosed details of the incident or any negotiations with the abductors.
Those close to the family said the decision to limit public comments was partly informed by concerns that excessive publicity could jeopardise ongoing efforts to secure the children’s release.
The case comes amid continuing concerns over kidnapping and other forms of insecurity across Kaduna State, where several communities have experienced attacks and mass abductions in recent years.
Kaduna has witnessed some of the country’s most prominent kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of pupils and teachers from Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area in March 2024.
The Kuriga incident drew national and international attention after more than 280 pupils and staff were initially reported missing following an attack on the schools. The victims were later rescued by security forces after spending days in captivity.
The state has also recorded other high-profile incidents, including the 2021 abduction of students of Greenfield University and the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, in which passengers were kidnapped after gunmen attacked the train along the Kaduna route.
The repeated incidents have continued to fuel concerns among residents over the safety of communities, particularly in areas where criminal groups have been able to abduct residents and demand large sums of money from their families.
For families whose relatives are taken, the period spent in captivity is often marked by uncertainty, fear and difficult negotiations, particularly where ransom demands run into tens or hundreds of millions of naira.
In the latest case, the reported N100 million demand has placed additional pressure on the victims’ family as they seek to secure the children’s release without exposing them to further danger.
Residents of the affected community are now calling on security agencies to intensify operations around vulnerable communities and access routes in the area, while urging authorities to make the safe recovery of the abducted children a priority.
They have also appealed for improved intelligence gathering and stronger coordination among security agencies to prevent similar incidents and ensure that suspected kidnappers do not continue to operate with ease.
The prolonged silence from government authorities has further increased public concern, with relatives and community members seeking reassurance that concrete measures are being taken to locate the victims and bring them home safely.
The family has continued to exercise caution over the matter, apparently mindful of the potential consequences of releasing sensitive information while efforts to secure the children’s freedom remain ongoing.
As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the victims remained unclear publicly, while there was no detailed official account of their condition or the progress of security operations connected to the case.
Chronicles Reporters will continue to monitor the development and report verified information as it becomes available.