Bandits holding 14 abducted residents of Janjala village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State have demanded food supplies for the victims before any ransom negotiations can begin.
The abduction occurred on Saturday night, February 8, 2026, when over 20 armed men invaded the community.
Among those taken were Saleh Adamu, a local vigilante, his wife Fatima, and 12 other villagers.
One resident, Shamsudeen Adamu, sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach during the attack.
A community liaison, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported that the bandit leader contacted families on Monday evening using one of the victims’ phones.
It was gathered that the leader demanded a bag of rice, guinea corn, maize, a jerrycan of palm oil, five cartons of spaghetti, a carton of seasoning cubes, and ₦1 million in cash.
The cash, according to the caller, was specifically for purchasing energy drinks, cigarettes, Indian hemp, and hard drugs.
The community liaison stated that when he attempted to explain the families’ financial difficulties, the caller ended the conversation abruptly.
Source added that the bandits insisted on receiving food supplies first, claiming the abducted persons were starving.
Security operatives are conducting searches in forests around Sabon-Kurutu and Hayin-Dam, but as of Tuesday, March 4, 2026, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued a public statement on the latest demands or rescue progress.
Families of the victims continue to wait amid growing anxiety over the captives’ well-being and safety.
Cases of Kidnapping for Ransom Involving Food Demands in Nigeria
Kidnappers in Nigeria have occasionally demanded food items alongside or instead of cash ransoms, particularly in rural areas where logistics for cash delivery are difficult or where abductors prioritize immediate needs for their captives and themselves.
Documented cases include:
In November 2024, bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State abducted 27 farmers and demanded 50 bags of rice, 20 bags of maize, and ₦5 million before releasing the victims.
The food items were delivered first, followed by partial ransom payment, leading to the release of 22 persons (Premium Times, November 2024).
In January 2025, kidnappers in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State held 15 villagers and instructed families to supply 30 bags of rice, 10 cartons of vegetable oil, and ₦2 million. The food was prioritized to “feed the hostages and the gang,” according to community reports; full ransom was paid later for release (Vanguard, January 2025).
In March 2025, a group of bandits in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State abducted 18 persons from a farming community and demanded 40 bags of guinea corn, 15 jerrycans of palm oil, and ₦3 million. Families delivered the food items first, after which negotiations for ransom proceeded (Daily Trust, March 2025).
In October 2025, kidnappers in Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State abducted 12 travellers and initially requested 25 bags of rice, 10 cartons of spaghetti, seasoning cubes, and ₦4 million. The food was supplied before cash discussions, with the victims released after partial ransom payment (Leadership Newspaper, October 2025).
In February 2026, bandits in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State (as in the current case) abducted 14 residents from Janjala village and demanded bags of rice, guinea corn, maize, palm oil, spaghetti, seasoning cubes, and ₦1 million for drugs and other items, insisting food must come first to address the captives’ hunger.
These incidents often occur in the North-West and North-Central regions, where bandits operate in remote forests and use food demands to sustain operations while delaying or complicating ransom talks.
Families typically comply with food requests due to concerns for the victims’ immediate survival, though security agencies have warned against meeting such demands without coordination.