Nigeria: Atiku Demands Swift Rescue of Abducted Kaduna Couple, Infant

What the report says

Former Nigerian vice president and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has condemned the reported abduction of Ahmed Zakka, his wife and their infant child in Kaduna State, according to a Leadership report distributed by AllAfrica. Atiku called for their immediate and safe release and urged security agencies to act quickly. The report says the family was seized in Kaduna, and earlier coverage by Leadership linked the wider incident to violence in Baban Saura and nearby Alrahus Estate in Millennium City, both in Chikun local government area.

In his response, Atiku described the case as another sign of the insecurity affecting households across Nigeria. He stressed that families should not be forced to bargain for their lives or safety and said the presence of an infant made the situation especially alarming. He also argued that insecurity is worsening the pressure many Nigerians already face from rising living costs.

The article says a source familiar with the situation reported that the Kaduna State government had visited residents in the affected communities on Sunday, October 11, 2026, and assured them that rescue efforts were under way. However, no formal public statement had yet been issued by the Kaduna State Police Command or the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs at the time of publication. More broadly, the case fits a persistent kidnapping and insecurity problem in parts of northern and central Nigeria, where abductions have often prompted calls for stronger protection and faster response.