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After over three weeks in captivity, the 28 travellers who were abducted on December 21, 2025, in the Zak community of the Bashar district of the Wase local government area of Plateau State, have regained their freedom.
The victims, who included men, women, and children, were heading for the Sabon Layi community of the same Bashar district to attend a Maulud event when they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen.
The abductors were to later contact the families of the victims to pay a ransom of N1.5m each and three motorcycles to free the victims. They even gave an ultimatum for the money to be paid or the victims would be executed.
The victims’ families had sent passionate pleas to the state and local governments begging for assistance to raise the ransom as they are peasant farmers and could not possibly raise the said amount.
However, on Saturday, there was good news as the victims were released by the abductors and have since been reunited with their families.
A youth leader in the Zak community, Sapi’i Sambo, who confirmed the release of the victims while speaking with journalists, said the operation was coordinated by the Waste LGA Chairman, Hon. Hamisu Mohammed Anani, and operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), working in tandem with local vigilantes.
“Operatives of the DSS called in the night they had rescued the victims. It was good news everywhere in Wase because people had been worried about what would happen if the conditions weren’t met. We’re happy with the development,” Sambo said.
A parent whose child was amongst those kidnapped, Dauda Ibrahim, also confirmed the release of the captives.
“We were told by the security that our children have been released and are currently in Bashar town. We are grateful to God Almighty and to the DSS operatives.
“We are now happy and relieved that this has come to an end,” he enthused.
When quizzed whether the relatives paid the ransom the kidnappers demanded, Ibrahim swore that as far as the relatives are concerned, they did not pay any ransom, though he was not sure if any was paid by the government.
28 travellers abducted in Plateau regain freedom after three weeks in captivity
