Please Help Us”: Terrorists Parade Abducted Women in Zamfara–Sokoto Region, Force Them to Beg for Release

 “Please Help Us”: Terrorists Parade Abducted Women in Zamfara–Sokoto Region, Force Them to Beg for Release

February 23, 2026 | News

Armed terrorists have released a disturbing video showing two young women who were abducted over a month ago while travelling through the Zamfara–Sokoto axis, forcing them to beg publicly for help and freedom.

In the footage, the women appear visibly traumatised, exhausted, and unkempt, with swollen faces and torn clothing, suggesting prolonged hardship in captivity. Crying repeatedly, they pleaded with authorities and members of the public, saying, “Please help us. Help us out.”

The video was shared on social media platform X by a teacher, Aisha Al-Mustapha, who identified one of the victims as her friend, Maryam. According to her, Maryam was kidnapped while travelling from Zamfara State to Sokoto State to resume her studies.

During the recording, the voice of one of the armed captors could be heard in Hausa, mocking and pressuring the women to speak louder to the camera. The coercive tone of the video has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns about the worsening security situation in northern Nigeria.

Although details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the victims have been held for more than a month in forested areas where criminal gangs operate freely across Zamfara and Sokoto states.

Reacting to the incident, Al-Mustapha condemned the growing normalisation of banditry in the region, lamenting the human cost of insecurity.

“My friend has been in captivity for one month simply because she was travelling to school,” she said. “It is painful that human lives are now treated like commodities.”

The North-West region has seen a surge in kidnappings, bandit attacks, and mass abductions in recent years, with students, commuters, and rural residents frequently targeted. Despite repeated assurances from security agencies and government officials, many communities continue to live in fear as criminal groups operate with little resistance.

Residents and rights advocates are once again calling on the authorities to intensify rescue efforts and bring those responsible to justice, as concerns grow over the safety of abducted victims and the broader security crisis in the region.