Tragic End for Abducted Zamfara Student After Four Months in Captivity

Babatunji Wusu –

• Victim: Zarah Abubakar Shehu, a 21-year-old student of Federal University Gusau.
• Abduction Details: She was kidnapped from her home in the Damba area of Gusau on November 3, 2024, along with her two siblings by suspected bandits.
• Initial Ransom Demand: The abductors first demanded N35 million but later agreed to N10 million.
• Additional Demands: Despite receiving the ransom, the kidnappers refused to release her, insisting on four motorcycles and four cartons of engine oil.
• Family’s Ordeal: The victim’s family struggled for months to gather the required items in hopes of securing her freedom.
• Tragic Outcome: After finally meeting all conditions, the family was informed that Zarah had died in captivity and was buried two days earlier.

A devastating tragedy has shaken Zamfara as Zarah Abubakar Shehu, a 21-year-old student of Federal University Gusau, lost her life after enduring four months in captivity. She was abducted alongside her two siblings from their home in the Damba area of Gusau in the early hours of November 3, 2024. The perpetrators, suspected to be bandits, initially demanded N35 million for her release but later agreed to a reduced ransom of N10 million.

Despite paying the amount, the family faced new obstacles when the kidnappers imposed additional conditions—demanding four motorcycles and four cartons of engine oil before releasing her. The family, desperate to save Zarah, struggled for months to gather the requested items.

However, when they finally met the demands and contacted the gang leader, they received a heartbreaking response. Instead of arranging for her release, the kidnappers informed them that Zarah had already died in captivity and had been buried two days prior.

Zarah, a 300-level student and the only daughter of her mother, had been held hostage for months under harsh conditions. Her tragic death highlights the ongoing security crisis in Zamfara, where kidnappings for ransom have become alarmingly frequent, leaving many families devastated and helpless.