Kidnappers Demand N30m for Release of Abducted Family Members—Victim’s Relative Pleads for Help

Grace Elisha, a Kaduna State indigene based in Abuja, is appealing to Nigerians for financial assistance to secure the release of her three family members abducted by kidnappers in Kujama, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to source recounted the harrowing ordeal that began on January 18, 2026, barely two months after she lost her mother to cancer on November 19, 2025.

The kidnappers invaded their family home in Kujama around 1am on a Sunday, taking away her father, her brother’s wife, Alice Joshua, her eight-year-old son, David Joshua, and her adopted sister, Josephine Elisha.

How the Ordeal Unfolded

Elisha, who was in Abuja at the time, said she received a distress call from her younger brother, Victor, around 1am.

“When I saw his missed call at that time of the night, I became worried because my father was sick, and I was afraid something had happened,” she narrated.

Victor told her that kidnappers had invaded their home and taken his wife, Alice. He said he had hidden in the ceiling to escape capture.

Elisha explained that her immediate younger brother, Emmanuel, also escaped into the ceiling when the attackers tried to force open his door. One of the kidnappers followed him into the ceiling space, but Emmanuel pushed him down and fled.

Another brother, who was staying with his wife in a different room, removed the burglary proof from the window and jumped out to escape. He tried to carry his wife along, but the attackers heard them talking and chased him. He managed to escape, but his wife was captured.

The kidnappers then moved to the main building, using hammers to break walls and windows. They threatened Elisha’s sick father, forcing him to open the main door.

“My father struggled to walk because he was ill. According to him, one of the kidnappers suggested shooting him, but another objected, saying the gunshot would alert the neighbours. Instead, they attacked him with a machete,” Elisha said.

The attackers also entered a neighbour’s house and abducted his wife, who has a two-month-old baby.

After the kidnappers left with the four victims, neighbours who gathered heard cries for help and found Elisha’s father lying helplessly on the ground. He was rushed to the hospital and has since been discharged but is still recovering.

Communication with Kidnappers

Elisha disclosed that the kidnappers contacted the family the next day, demanding N100 million ransom.

“The next day, which was a Tuesday, they called to ask if we had the money, we said no, and they did not even give us room for negotiations. But five days later, they called again and said that since we didn’t have the full amount, they were reducing it to N50 million,” she said.

She advised her brother to inform them they could only raise N1 million. However, when they made the offer, the kidnappers insulted them.

Five days later, the abductors called again, claiming that her brother’s wife and her son were seriously ill. They demanded N30 million, warning that if the family failed to pay, they should forget about their loved ones.

“They are now firm on N30 million, saying they will not reduce the amount any further,” Elisha added.

Emotional Toll on Family

Elisha, the only daughter and second child among five siblings, described the emotional and mental toll the incident has taken on her and her family.

“It hasn’t been easy at all. Emotionally and mentally, I am not stable; I am really not fine. I have been very down and unwell. Knowing that my family is out there in the bush while I am here lying on the bed is deeply hurting me,” she said.

She expressed particular concern for her father, who is still mourning his late wife while grappling with the abduction of three family members.

“My father is not okay. As an elderly man who recently lost his wife and is still mourning her, while also struggling with his health, he cries almost every day, overwhelmed by the weight of this situation,” she said.

Police Response and Community Fear

Elisha said police officers visited the crime scene the day after the incident and collected the names of the kidnapped family members, but there has been no progress since then.

She also lamented the lack of support from the community, noting that many residents are fleeing the area for fear of being targeted next.

“Nobody has reached out so far. In fact, many people are leaving the area. Some are even selling their houses. Since the incident, fear has taken over the neighbourhood. Even the churches, which usually offer support in times of crisis, have largely remained silent,” she said.

Appeal for Help

Elisha, who is the only working member of her family, appealed to Nigerians for financial assistance to meet the kidnappers’ demand and secure the release of her loved ones.

“We need financial help. I am pleading with Nigerians to help my family. Imagine the fear, the pain, and the helplessness you would feel if one of your loved ones was kidnapped. Now, imagine three of them. We are talking about three innocent lives taken from our home, our family, and our hearts,” she pleaded.

She identified the kidnapped victims as Alice Joshua (her brother’s wife), David Joshua (eight years old), and Josephine Elisha (her adopted sister).

“Your financial assistance could be the lifeline that saves our family. We need help now; every contribution matters,” she added.

Elisha can be reached on TikTok @Oreofe001.

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