Terror in Lafia: Kidnappers Storm Homes, Demand Millions as Fear Paralyzes Capital
Cries of anguish echoed through Lafia this week as armed kidnappers launched a wave of night raids across the Nasarawa State capital, abducting residents and demanding ransoms as high as ₦10 million. Entire communities are now living in fear, with residents too afraid to sleep or step outside after sundown.
Survivors of these terrifying ordeals describe being snatched at gunpoint and marched barefoot for hours through bush paths. One victim, abducted near his home in Tudun Amba around 8:50 p.m., told journalists he was threatened with death and tortured while his family scrambled to raise the demanded ransom. “We trekked for nearly 11 hours,” he said, his voice trembling. “They beat me, called my family, and made them listen.”
The syndicates are reportedly made up of heavily armed young men, often speaking Fulfulde, and are suspected to operate with insider support. Another victim revealed he was held near Doma Barracks—a high-security area—until his family paid up. “These criminals are not just lucky. They know everything. They have eyes everywhere.”
Most-hit zones include Lafia North, College of Agriculture area, Polytechnic road, Danka, Kwandere, Shabu, and Tudun Kauri. Even security personnel have not been spared, with a police officer reportedly kidnapped and killed earlier this month near the College axis. Residents now whisper in fear, knowing that no one—not even law enforcement—is safe.
Community leaders are demanding urgent intervention. Many are calling for the profiling of motorcycle and tricycle operators, believed to be used as informal scouts for these gangs. Some locals insist strange faces have flooded the area in recent months, suggesting coordinated infiltration by external criminal elements.
Despite increased patrols by police and military units across Nasarawa State, the bandits continue to strike with boldness and precision. Locals say many cases go unreported due to fear of reprisal or mistrust in law enforcement. With each new abduction, desperation spreads faster than relief.
As darkness falls over Lafia each night, silence replaces laughter. The once-vibrant city now lives under siege, waiting for a rescue that seems slow in coming. For many families, the nightmare continues—and the cost of freedom is only rising.
