After more than three weeks in captivity, the 28 travellers abducted on December 21, 2025, in the Zak community of Bashar district, Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State, have been released.
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The victims, comprising men, women, and children, were traveling to the Sabon Layi, Plateau community in the same district to attend a Maulud event when they were ambushed and kidnapped by armed gunmen.
The abductors later demanded a ransom of ₦1.5 million per person along with three motorcycles for the release of the victims, issuing an ultimatum that failure to pay would result in their execution.
The Plateau 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 plateau incident, 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.
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