Newly Passed Out Soldiers Among Fresh Abductions as Ransom Demands Rise

Zamfara State – Three newly passed out soldiers travelling from Zaria to Zamfara State were abducted by terrorists on July 2, who initially demanded N50 million before later reducing the ransom to N5 million per captive, according to family members of the victims.

The soldiers were reportedly abducted after being left to travel to their new posting in Kebbi State shortly after completing their passing out exercise at the 26 Nigerian Army formation in Kaduna State, with families saying they notified military authorities but received no official response for more than 13 days.

The Nigerian Defence Academy told reporters it was not aware of the incident, while the Director of Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Major General Michael Onoja, also said the department had no knowledge of the abduction.

The case has renewed scrutiny of how newly commissioned military personnel are transported to their duty posts, with families questioning why no protective escort or coordinated movement plan was in place for the soldiers.

The incident coincides with a separate school abduction in Kogi State this week, underscoring the persistence of kidnapping for ransom as a nationwide security challenge affecting both civilians and security personnel.

Military authorities are expected to face renewed pressure to clarify the circumstances surrounding the soldiers’ abduction and to outline steps being taken to secure their release.