Abducted Kaduna couple, toddler regain freedom

A kidnapped couple, Ahmed Abubakar Zakka, his wife and their six-month-old daughter, Fatima, have regained their freedom.

The victims were released from captivity in the forest on Thursday and were on their way back to Kaduna metropolis as of the time of filing this report.

Details of their release remained sketchy, but a retired security officer who had been working with his team to secure their freedom confirmed the development to our reporter.

It was not clear whether ransom was paid to secure their release.

The individual, who requested anonymity, said the victims were returning home in a vehicle driven by his driver.

“Yes, they are on their way back home with my driver. I can tell you categorically that the state government played no role in their release. It was the efforts of my team and some private individuals that led to their release,” he said.

A family member of the victims also confirmed their release but said they were yet to return home.

“We heard they were released, but we are yet to see them. We give thanks to Allah for that,” he said.

Asked whether ransom was paid to secure their release, the family member said he could not comment on the matter until the victims returned home.

“Well, I cannot say anything on that yet. Let them return home first,” he said.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful as the command’s spokesman, DSP Mansur Hassan, could not be reached because his phone line failed to connect.

However, a senior security officer familiar with the situation said the police and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) did not encourage ransom payments, although they could not prevent families from making such decisions.

“If the victims’ families decide to pay, we cannot stop them,” the officer said.

The victims were abducted from their residence in Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on October 6, 2026.

A video showing Zakka and his daughter in the abductors’ custody went viral on social media days after the incident, sparking widespread outrage across the country.

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