February 23, 2026 | SUNTV Global
A shocking video has emerged showing two young women abducted over a month ago in the Zamfara-Sokoto region, pleading for their freedom as they endure the trauma of captivity.
The footage, widely shared on social media, shows the women visibly distressed, their clothes soiled and faces swollen from prolonged hardship. In the video, they cry out repeatedly, “Please help us. Help us out,” as armed men force them to speak to the camera.
Mrs. Aisha Al-Mustapha, a teacher who shared the video on X, identified one of the victims as Maryam, abducted while traveling from Zamfara State to Sokoto State to resume school, along with her friend.
At one point, an armed man speaking in Hausa taunted the women, demanding they describe their situation louder, highlighting the brutality of their captors.
The exact circumstances of the abduction remain unclear, but sources indicate the women have been held for more than a month by armed gangs operating across forested areas between Zamfara and Sokoto states.
Mrs. Al-Mustapha expressed deep frustration over her friend’s captivity and the growing insecurity in the region. “My friend Maryam has been in captivity for the past one month. Her only sin was traveling to go to school from Zamfara to Sokoto,” she lamented. “It really pains me how banditry has been normalized and human beings are being treated like animals.”
Northern Nigeria, particularly Zamfara and Sokoto, has seen a surge in kidnappings, attacks on communities, and banditry in recent years. Despite assurances from government and security agencies, residents continue to face daily threats from heavily armed criminal gangs who operate with near impunity.
This video adds to mounting concerns about safety in the region and underscores the urgent need for decisive action to protect vulnerable citizens.
WATCH: Victims Plead for Freedom in Disturbing Zamfara-Sokoto Kidnapping Video
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