Borno Kidnap Crisis: Families Sell Homes in Bid to Raise Ransom

Families of 52 residents abducted across Borno State are taking extreme measures to secure the freedom of their loved ones, with several relatives selling their family homes in anticipation of massive ransom demands.

The victims were seized by unidentified gunmen during coordinated attacks on April 15. Months after the abductions, grieving relatives find themselves trapped in an agonizing situation, struggling against financial ruin, extortion scams, and prolonged silence from authorities.

Hassan Yati, speaking on behalf of the victims’ families, revealed the severe emotional and financial toll the crisis has inflicted on local communities. In one tragic instance, a family seeking the release of two kidnapped sons fell victim to fraudsters who posed as the abductors and stole ₦1.5 million out of a ₦3 million demand, before discovering the actual captors had never reached out.

To prepare for expected demands, several relatives have resorted to liquidating their only assets. A mother in the Biu Local Government Area put her home up for sale to raise funds for her abducted daughter. Yati shared that he also listed his own family house to raise money for his missing younger brother and sister-in-law, while facing immense pressure from frantic relatives accusing him of withholding progress updates.

Other victims’ families report similar stories of hardship. Monday Bako, a local food vendor whose daughter was abducted earlier in January, explained that she sold her house to ensure cash was ready the moment captors made contact. However, months have passed without any word, leaving her and many others in a state of painful uncertainty.

With nursing mothers and infants among those held captive, affected families are appealing directly to the government to intervene, break the silence, and launch urgent rescue operations to bring their missing relative home.