A distressing video showing two elderly men in captivity, including a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko-Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State, has surfaced online, sparking renewed concern over the growing insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media on Thursday, was reportedly shared by conflict reporter and security analyst English Alhaji through his Facebook page.
Recorded in Hausa, the video captures the abducted men making emotional appeals for assistance, urging their families, community leaders and government authorities to intensify efforts toward securing their freedom.
One of the victims, identified as a former APC chairman in Koko-Besse Local Government Area, lamented the harsh conditions of their captivity and expressed concern over what he described as the slow pace of efforts to secure their release.
According to him, both captives are facing serious health challenges while being held by their abductors.
“Yahya is ill, and I am also battling sickness. As you know, I have been living on medication. Our condition is getting worse in this place,” he said in the video.
The former party chairman disclosed that despite their age and medical conditions, they have been forced to travel long distances on foot through forests alongside their captors.
The second victim, identified as Yahya, also appealed for urgent intervention, noting that they had spent a prolonged period in captivity without any breakthrough in efforts to rescue them.
Both men called on their relatives, associates and relevant authorities to take immediate steps toward securing their release and reuniting them with their families.
The video has generated widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the welfare of the captives and the persistent threat posed by kidnapping and banditry across several parts of the country.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not issued an official statement regarding the video or provided an update on efforts to secure the victims’ freedom.
