Fresh concerns have emerged over the growing insecurity in northern Nigeria after a video surfaced showing two elderly men, including a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko-Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State, pleading for help from captivity.
The video, which circulated widely on social media on Thursday, showed the two men making emotional appeals to their families, community leaders and government authorities to intensify efforts toward securing their release from the hands of bandits.
Speaking in Hausa, the captives said their health conditions had worsened during their stay in the kidnappers’ camp and warned that they were facing serious hardship.
One of the victims, identified as a former APC chairman in Koko-Besse Local Government Area, expressed frustration over what he described as the lack of progress in efforts to secure their freedom.
The elderly man said both he and his fellow captive, identified as Yahya, were battling health challenges while enduring difficult conditions in captivity.
According to him, the situation has become increasingly unbearable because of their age and medical conditions.
“Yahya is ill, and I am also battling sickness. As you know, I have been living on medication. Our condition is getting worse in this place,” he said in the video.
He revealed that despite their fragile health, they had been forced to trek long distances through forests alongside their abductors.
The former APC chairman appealed to everyone involved in efforts to secure their release not to relent, saying their lives could be in danger if urgent action was not taken.
The second victim, Yahya, also spoke in the video, calling for immediate intervention from authorities and concerned individuals.
He said they had spent a long period in captivity without being rescued and urged those in positions of authority to do everything possible to secure their freedom.
The two men appealed to their families, associates and government officials to help reunite them with their loved ones.
Their emotional message has sparked widespread concern among residents of Kebbi State and social media users across the country.
Many Nigerians who reacted to the video expressed sympathy for the victims and renewed calls for stronger action against banditry and kidnapping, which continue to threaten lives and livelihoods in many northern communities.
The incident highlights the persistent security challenges facing parts of northern Nigeria, where armed bandit groups have continued to carry out attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling despite ongoing military operations.
Kebbi State, although considered less affected than some neighbouring states, has in recent years recorded several incidents linked to bandit activities. Communities in border areas and rural locations have remained particularly vulnerable to attacks by criminal groups operating across forests that stretch into neighbouring states.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of the most troubling security threats in the region. Victims often include farmers, traders, traditional leaders, politicians and ordinary residents. In many cases, abductees spend weeks or even months in captivity while negotiations for their release continue.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that the activities of bandits have not only endangered lives but also affected economic activities, especially farming, which is the main source of livelihood for many communities in northern Nigeria.
Several states in the North-West and parts of the North-Central region have experienced recurring attacks in recent years. The Federal Government and security agencies have launched a series of operations aimed at dismantling criminal camps and restoring peace to affected communities.
Despite these efforts, many residents continue to live in fear as kidnappings and attacks persist in some areas.
The latest video has once again drawn attention to the plight of people held by armed groups across the region. Families of abducted victims often face emotional and financial difficulties while waiting for their loved ones to regain freedom.
Community leaders and civil society groups have also continued to call for stronger security measures, improved intelligence gathering and greater protection for vulnerable communities.
As concern grows over the condition of the two elderly captives, residents and well-wishers are hoping for swift action that will lead to their safe release.
For now, the video remains a painful reminder of the human cost of banditry and the continuing challenge of insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where many families are still waiting for the return of relatives taken away by armed criminals.