Nigeria’s Deepening Crisis: 10 Kidnapped in Fake EFCC Raid While Another Captive is Killed After Ransom

The wave of banditry in Nigeria continues unabated as ten armed assailants, disguised as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), kidnapped ten hotel guests in Niger State. The incident occurred at approximately 4:55 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2025.

Reports indicate that the bandits stormed the hotel under the pretense of conducting an official EFCC operation. They allegedly disabled the hotel’s CCTV cameras before breaking into guest rooms one by one and abducting their victims. The kidnapped individuals were taken to an undisclosed location, and their fate remains unknown.

The Rising Threat of Banditry and Ruthless Ransom Demands

For years, bandits have terrorized communities across Nigeria, demanding exorbitant ransoms ranging from ₦20 million to ₦200 million for their captives. In many cases, they threaten to attack homes and farms if their demands are not met. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government has yet to find a decisive solution to this crisis.

One of the most heart-wrenching recent cases involves Zahra Abubakar, a 21-year-old student of Federal University, Gusau. She was abducted along with her two siblings from their residence in the Damba area of Gusau during the early hours of Sunday, March 2, 2025.

Initially, the kidnappers demanded ₦35 million for their release. However, after negotiations, the ransom was reduced to ₦10 million, which the family managed to raise and pay. But rather than releasing Zahra, the kidnappers imposed additional demands—four motorcycles and four cartons of engine oil—before considering her freedom.

Tragically, despite the family meeting these demands, the leader of the gang was informed by his associates that Zahra had already been killed and buried two days earlier. The young woman had endured four months of captivity before her senseless murder. She was her mother’s only daughter, making the loss even more devastating.

When Will This End?

The continued rise in banditry and kidnappings across Nigeria raises pressing questions about the nation's security apparatus. How long will innocent citizens remain vulnerable to these ruthless criminals? When will the government take decisive action to protect its people? The need for urgent and effective security reforms has never been more critical.