₦airaland Forum

How my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits

I have witnessed and experienced many bandits attacking on the roads, market etc that involved me alone but this time, it wanted to involve my family.

Link below was how I kidnapped along Abuja -Kaduna road
https://www.nairaland.com/7029895/terrorist-attacked-thurday-10th-march

On the 18th of November, 2025, my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits at our residence in Zamfara State.

At the time, my family lived in Zamfara while I managed my business in Kano. Because of this, I traveled from Kano to Zamfara about twice every month to check on my family and spend time with them.

We had been searching for a new apartment after our landlord sold the house we were living in and gave us notice to vacate. Finding accommodation in Zamfara was extremely difficult because of the insecurity caused by bandit attacks in many villages. As a result, many families had relocated from rural communities to the state capital for safety, making houses scarce and expensive.

I instructed my family to look for a house within the city. Eventually, they found a three-bedroom apartment in Tsauni, along the Sokoto bypass. Since I was in Kano at the time, my wife showed me the apartment through a video call. I advised her to ask people around about the security of the area before we made any payment.

She told me that some of her colleagues lived in that neighborhood, so I personally called one of them to confirm if the environment was safe. I was told that the area was peaceful and that the apartment was even located close to a police station. After making my inquiries, I transferred the payment for the apartment to the agent.

I then told my wife to begin preparations for moving into the new apartment, and I promised to travel to Zamfara when they were ready to move in.

On the day my family planned to move, I arrived early in the morning from Kano to inspect the house myself. When I got there, I immediately felt uncomfortable with the environment. From my years of traveling across Northern Nigeria and my understanding of how bandits operate, something about the area did not sit well with me. Unfortunately, we had already paid for the apartment and moved in.

Initially, I intended to stay with my family for only three days before returning to Kano. However, I kept feeling uneasy. Something deep inside me urged me to stay longer. After one week, I still did not feel at peace, and again I felt strongly that I should remain with my family for another week.

Then came the day that changed everything.

On the 18th of November, 2025, all my children had gone to school, and my wife had gone to work. I was alone at home when two men arrived and knocked on our gate.

I went outside to meet them. They claimed they were looking for the person who had previously lived in the house. I told them that I was a new tenant and did not know the former occupant. I advised them to contact the landlord instead.

The moment they left, I became deeply suspicious. Something in my mind immediately warned me that we should not sleep in that house that night.

I called my wife and told her that the family would not spend the night there. She asked what had happened, and I explained my encounter with the two men. Although she did not fully understand my fears, I had already made up my mind.

I contacted a friend of mine who had extra rooms in his compound and informed him that my family would stay at his place that night.

I also instructed my son to arrange for a vehicle that could help us move our belongings because I had decided that we would no longer continue living in that house.

By around 2 p.m., when my wife and children returned home from work and school, we began gathering our belongings in the compound while waiting for the vehicle to arrive.

At about 6 p.m., we called the driver, and he told us he was on his way. We waited until sunset and later went to the mosque for the Maghrib prayer around 7 p.m., but the driver still had not arrived.

After the prayer, we called him again, and this time he told us he would no longer be able to come until the following morning.

As we walked back from the mosque, I noticed several unfamiliar faces around the area. My fear increased immediately. I quickly gathered my children and told them we would not sleep in the house that night.

When we got home, I informed my wife that the driver would not come until morning. Since we could not move our belongings immediately, I decided to move the family out quietly without attracting attention.

I escorted two people at a time from the house to the main road, then returned for the others. I repeated this process until I had safely taken every member of my family, including my wife and children, to the roadside.

After escorting everyone out, I returned to the house alone because I did not want anyone in the neighborhood to suspect that we were leaving out of fear.

I stayed inside for about ten more minutes before quietly locking the gate and walking to join my family at the main road. It was around 8 p.m.

Less than ten minutes after we gathered there, one of my son’s friends, who lived in the second house nearby, called him and asked where we were.

When my son told him that we were no longer at home, the boy said that armed bandits had just invaded our house.

According to him, three armed men had jumped over our fence and entered the compound. When residents in the area noticed them, people immediately ran toward the nearby police station for safety.

After the bandits entered our compound and discovered that our belongings had already been packed together, they apparently realized something was wrong and jumped back over the fence.

On their way out, they kidnapped some people they encountered nearby.

The next morning, after daybreak, I returned to the house and then went straight to the police station to report the incident. I also informed the police that they should contact the landlord because I no longer wanted the apartment and wanted my money refunded. We had lived in the house for only two weeks.

That was how my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits that night and God saved us.

Lessons I Learned

1. Avoid living in isolated areas, especially places surrounded by empty plots, construction sites, or uncompleted buildings. Such locations can provide hiding places and easy access for criminals.

2. Never ignore danger signs or delay moving when you feel unsafe. Quick decisions can save lives.

3. Criminals often rely on information from people within or around a community. Residents should stay alert and be cautious about suspicious activities or unusual interest in their homes and movements.

4. Whenever you notice unfamiliar or suspicious people repeatedly appearing around your neighborhood, report it immediately to the police or local security authorities.

We will continue to pray for our security personnel because the situation of insecurity in Nigeria is beyond what anyone can predict when it will end.

Family affairs tho...

They are brother's keepers

I thank God for sparing your life
Bro you are really security conscious

If you had traveled back to kano without following your mind

If your wife had proved stubbornness with you that she is not going anywhere that night because it seems she love the apartment, or that you should postpone going the next day those bandits will have gotten hold of you guys, thank God she cooperated with you if not there will be arguments, there will be back and forth about decision making, and time was of essence

Teetee777:
How my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits

I have witnessed and experienced many bandits attacking on the roads, market etc that involved me alone but this time, it wanted to involve my family.

Link below was how I kidnapped along Abuja -Kaduna road
https://www.nairaland.com/7029895/terrorist-attacked-thurday-10th-march

On the 18th of November, 2025, my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits at our residence in Zamfara State.

At the time, my family lived in Zamfara while I managed my business in Kano. Because of this, I traveled from Kano to Zamfara about twice every month to check on my family and spend time with them.

We had been searching for a new apartment after our landlord sold the house we were living in and gave us notice to vacate. Finding accommodation in Zamfara was extremely difficult because of the insecurity caused by bandit attacks in many villages. As a result, many families had relocated from rural communities to the state capital for safety, making houses scarce and expensive.

I instructed my family to look for a house within the city. Eventually, they found a three-bedroom apartment in Tsauni, along the Sokoto bypass. Since I was in Kano at the time, my wife showed me the apartment through a video call. I advised her to ask people around about the security of the area before we made any payment.

She told me that some of her colleagues lived in that neighborhood, so I personally called one of them to confirm if the environment was safe. I was told that the area was peaceful and that the apartment was even located close to a police station. After making my inquiries, I transferred the payment for the apartment to the agent.

I then told my wife to begin preparations for moving into the new apartment, and I promised to travel to Zamfara when they were ready to move in.

On the day my family planned to move, I arrived early in the morning from Kano to inspect the house myself. When I got there, I immediately felt uncomfortable with the environment. From my years of traveling across Northern Nigeria and my understanding of how bandits operate, something about the area did not sit well with me. Unfortunately, we had already paid for the apartment and moved in.

Initially, I intended to stay with my family for only three days before returning to Kano. However, I kept feeling uneasy. Something deep inside me urged me to stay longer. After one week, I still did not feel at peace, and again I felt strongly that I should remain with my family for another week.

Then came the day that changed everything.

On the 18th of November, 2025, all my children had gone to school, and my wife had gone to work. I was alone at home when two men arrived and knocked on our gate.

I went outside to meet them. They claimed they were looking for the person who had previously lived in the house. I told them that I was a new tenant and did not know the former occupant. I advised them to contact the landlord instead.

The moment they left, I became deeply suspicious. Something in my mind immediately warned me that we should not sleep in that house that night.

I called my wife and told her that the family would not spend the night there. She asked what had happened, and I explained my encounter with the two men. Although she did not fully understand my fears, I had already made up my mind.

I contacted a friend of mine who had extra rooms in his compound and informed him that my family would stay at his place that night.

I also instructed my son to arrange for a vehicle that could help us move our belongings because I had decided that we would no longer continue living in that house.

By around 2 p.m., when my wife and children returned home from work and school, we began gathering our belongings in the compound while waiting for the vehicle to arrive.

At about 6 p.m., we called the driver, and he told us he was on his way. We waited until sunset and later went to the mosque for the Maghrib prayer around 7 p.m., but the driver still had not arrived.

After the prayer, we called him again, and this time he told us he would no longer be able to come until the following morning.

As we walked back from the mosque, I noticed several unfamiliar faces around the area. My fear increased immediately. I quickly gathered my children and told them we would not sleep in the house that night.

When we got home, I informed my wife that the driver would not come until morning. Since we could not move our belongings immediately, I decided to move the family out quietly without attracting attention.

I escorted two people at a time from the house to the main road, then returned for the others. I repeated this process until I had safely taken every member of my family, including my wife and children, to the roadside.

After escorting everyone out, I returned to the house alone because I did not want anyone in the neighborhood to suspect that we were leaving out of fear.

I stayed inside for about ten more minutes before quietly locking the gate and walking to join my family at the main road. It was around 8 p.m.

Less than ten minutes after we gathered there, one of my son’s friends, who lived in the second house nearby, called him and asked where we were.

When my son told him that we were no longer at home, the boy said that armed bandits had just invaded our house.

According to him, three armed men had jumped over our fence and entered the compound. When residents in the area noticed them, people immediately ran toward the nearby police station for safety.

After the bandits entered our compound and discovered that our belongings had already been packed together, they apparently realized something was wrong and jumped back over the fence.

On their way out, they kidnapped some people they encountered nearby.

The next morning, after daybreak, I returned to the house and then went straight to the police station to report the incident. I also informed the police that they should contact the landlord because I no longer wanted the apartment and wanted my money refunded. We had lived in the house for only two weeks.

That was how my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits that night and God saved us.

Lessons I Learned

1. Avoid living in isolated areas, especially places surrounded by empty plots, construction sites, or uncompleted buildings. Such locations can provide hiding places and easy access for criminals.

2. Never ignore danger signs or delay moving when you feel unsafe. Quick decisions can save lives.

3. Criminals often rely on information from people within or around a community. Residents should stay alert and be cautious about suspicious activities or unusual interest in their homes and movements.

4. Whenever you notice unfamiliar or suspicious people repeatedly appearing around your neighborhood, report it immediately to the police or local security authorities.

We will continue to pray for our security personnel because the situation of insecurity in Nigeria is beyond what anyone can predict when it will end.

Thank God for safety, I don't play with my instincts. I follow it straight up 📌💯.

The fate of most muslims in the north is that of a jihadi captive who has no choice but to start supporting the jihadi themselves and become captors.

Your business is in kano but your family is in zamfara. You are exposing yourself and family to too much risk.

olatuneji:
I thank God for sparing your life
But bro you are really security conscious

If you had traveled back to kano without following your mind

If your wife had prove stubbornness with you that she is not going anywhere that night because it seems she love the apartment, or that you should postpone going the next day those bandits will have gotten hold of you guys, thank God she cooperated with you if not there will be arguments, there will be back and forth about decision making, and time was of essence

If she had ‘proved stubborn’, then she must’ve been an accomplice in the plot… one (or two, maybe three and possibly four) of the bandits was her bedmate and co-conspirator…

There’s no way an innocent fellow with the mental awareness of the environment where they are would’ve been caught slacking!

A lot of lies. I’m not ready to nitpick the story. I understand the message passed and note it.

Teetee777:
How my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits

I have witnessed and experienced many bandits attacking on the roads, market etc that involved me alone but this time, it wanted to involve my family.

Link below was how I kidnapped along Abuja -Kaduna road
https://www.nairaland.com/7029895/terrorist-attacked-thurday-10th-march

On the 18th of November, 2025, my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits at our residence in Zamfara State.

At the time, my family lived in Zamfara while I managed my business in Kano. Because of this, I traveled from Kano to Zamfara about twice every month to check on my family and spend time with them.

We had been searching for a new apartment after our landlord sold the house we were living in and gave us notice to vacate. Finding accommodation in Zamfara was extremely difficult because of the insecurity caused by bandit attacks in many villages. As a result, many families had relocated from rural communities to the state capital for safety, making houses scarce and expensive.

I instructed my family to look for a house within the city. Eventually, they found a three-bedroom apartment in Tsauni, along the Sokoto bypass. Since I was in Kano at the time, my wife showed me the apartment through a video call. I advised her to ask people around about the security of the area before we made any payment.

She told me that some of her colleagues lived in that neighborhood, so I personally called one of them to confirm if the environment was safe. I was told that the area was peaceful and that the apartment was even located close to a police station. After making my inquiries, I transferred the payment for the apartment to the agent.

I then told my wife to begin preparations for moving into the new apartment, and I promised to travel to Zamfara when they were ready to move in.

On the day my family planned to move, I arrived early in the morning from Kano to inspect the house myself. When I got there, I immediately felt uncomfortable with the environment. From my years of traveling across Northern Nigeria and my understanding of how bandits operate, something about the area did not sit well with me. Unfortunately, we had already paid for the apartment and moved in.

Initially, I intended to stay with my family for only three days before returning to Kano. However, I kept feeling uneasy. Something deep inside me urged me to stay longer. After one week, I still did not feel at peace, and again I felt strongly that I should remain with my family for another week.

Then came the day that changed everything.

On the 18th of November, 2025, all my children had gone to school, and my wife had gone to work. I was alone at home when two men arrived and knocked on our gate.

I went outside to meet them. They claimed they were looking for the person who had previously lived in the house. I told them that I was a new tenant and did not know the former occupant. I advised them to contact the landlord instead.

The moment they left, I became deeply suspicious. Something in my mind immediately warned me that we should not sleep in that house that night.

I called my wife and told her that the family would not spend the night there. She asked what had happened, and I explained my encounter with the two men. Although she did not fully understand my fears, I had already made up my mind.

I contacted a friend of mine who had extra rooms in his compound and informed him that my family would stay at his place that night.

I also instructed my son to arrange for a vehicle that could help us move our belongings because I had decided that we would no longer continue living in that house.

By around 2 p.m., when my wife and children returned home from work and school, we began gathering our belongings in the compound while waiting for the vehicle to arrive.

At about 6 p.m., we called the driver, and he told us he was on his way. We waited until sunset and later went to the mosque for the Maghrib prayer around 7 p.m., but the driver still had not arrived.

After the prayer, we called him again, and this time he told us he would no longer be able to come until the following morning.

As we walked back from the mosque, I noticed several unfamiliar faces around the area. My fear increased immediately. I quickly gathered my children and told them we would not sleep in the house that night.

When we got home, I informed my wife that the driver would not come until morning. Since we could not move our belongings immediately, I decided to move the family out quietly without attracting attention.

I escorted two people at a time from the house to the main road, then returned for the others. I repeated this process until I had safely taken every member of my family, including my wife and children, to the roadside.

After escorting everyone out, I returned to the house alone because I did not want anyone in the neighborhood to suspect that we were leaving out of fear.

I stayed inside for about ten more minutes before quietly locking the gate and walking to join my family at the main road. It was around 8 p.m.

Less than ten minutes after we gathered there, one of my son’s friends, who lived in the second house nearby, called him and asked where we were.

When my son told him that we were no longer at home, the boy said that armed bandits had just invaded our house.

According to him, three armed men had jumped over our fence and entered the compound. When residents in the area noticed them, people immediately ran toward the nearby police station for safety.

After the bandits entered our compound and discovered that our belongings had already been packed together, they apparently realized something was wrong and jumped back over the fence.

On their way out, they kidnapped some people they encountered nearby.

The next morning, after daybreak, I returned to the house and then went straight to the police station to report the incident. I also informed the police that they should contact the landlord because I no longer wanted the apartment and wanted my money refunded. We had lived in the house for only two weeks.

That was how my family and I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by bandits that night and God saved us.

Lessons I Learned

1. Avoid living in isolated areas, especially places surrounded by empty plots, construction sites, or uncompleted buildings. Such locations can provide hiding places and easy access for criminals.

2. Never ignore danger signs or delay moving when you feel unsafe. Quick decisions can save lives.

3. Criminals often rely on information from people within or around a community. Residents should stay alert and be cautious about suspicious activities or unusual interest in their homes and movements.

4. Whenever you notice unfamiliar or suspicious people repeatedly appearing around your neighborhood, report it immediately to the police or local security authorities.

We will continue to pray for our security personnel because the situation of insecurity in Nigeria is beyond what anyone can predict when it will end.

It's really good that you were able to learn important lessons from this experience.

eepeepook:
A lot of lies. I’m not ready to nitpick the story. I understand the message passed and note it.

It is a AI-generated story.

Very unfortunate situation tinubu has put everyone into.

Obvious.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Goldbw122:
It is a AI-generated story.

One question: Do bandits kidnap Fulanis as well?

Thank God for listening to instincts!

The story too long jare. I can swear that not everyone here read the whole story from the beginning to the end.

olatuneji:
I thank God for sparing your life
Bro you are really security conscious

If you had traveled back to kano without following your mind

If your wife had proved stubbornness with you that she is not going anywhere that night because it seems she love the apartment, or that you should postpone going the next day those bandits will have gotten hold of you guys, thank God she cooperated with you if not there will be arguments, there will be back and forth about decision making, and time was of essence

Thanks
That's reason why man will always be the head of the family because man will easily sense danger than woman. My wife wanted to stay due to how beautiful the house was but I gave her condition that if anything happen to her, she is on her own.

That you know they were coming back is an advantage for you to bring them down.

You ought to ambush them instead of running.

You run to fight another day.

I see no big deal here at all
all na internal affairs

Thanks God for your life oooh

By now, them bandits for don dey wipe waytin no nice for your body

The worst be say, them go come post you for social media, as you dey beg for ransom

If I check am well, you dey support Tinubu ba

Another lesson to learn from your story, when your instincts or mind tells you something repeatedly, don't hesitate to follow it. That might be God talking to you.

chrisxxx:
One question: Do bandits kidnap Fulanis as well?

Yes, they do if that Fulani is a rich man

eepeepook:
A lot of lies. I’m not ready to nitpick the story. I understand the message passed and note it.

I'm not even moved at all by that story, na lies full it. Come up with more reasonable stories next time bro.

Why not just move your family to Kano, isn't that place much safer than Zamfara, a hot spot for bandit attacks

Jagermeister:
If she had ‘proved stubborn’, then she must’ve been an accomplice in the plot… one (or two, maybe three and possibly four) of the bandits was her bedmate and co-conspirator…

There’s no way an innocent fellow with the mental awareness of the environment where they are would’ve been caught slacking!

Reason why I find it difficult bringing any issue to social media. Some commenters are excess fluid in their Brains

All Man For Himself, God For Everybody, Defend Yourself And Stay Safe, No Government is Coming to Your Rescue, You.Are On YOUR OWN

Teetee777:
Yes, they do if that Fulani is a rich man

Na waooo. Any day out leaders decide to stop banditry it will stop.

Omo I don't know what else to say again other than to find a safe place because you are lucky twice what about next time Hmm

donleo92:
Thanks God for your life oooh

By now, them bandits for don dey wipe waytin no nice for your body

The worst be say, them go come post you for social media, as you dey beg for ransom

If I check am well, you dey support Tinubu ba

One thing I believe is that if the election will be a free and fair election, Tinubu will not win in Zamfara state, I don't know about other states.

Jagermeister:
If she had ‘proved stubborn’, then she must’ve been an accomplice in the plot… one (or two, maybe three and possibly four) of the bandits was her bedmate and co-conspirator…

There’s no way an innocent fellow with the mental awareness of the environment where they are would’ve been caught slacking!

Bro this is not a matter of her being an accomplice. Some women re naturally stubborn, they would begin to tell you something like : they just moved here why leave in a hurry , they can’t sleep in someone’s house , your friends have been here for long so why more, my office is close to work I can’t go that far etc

Na God help give that man a very obedient wife.

True story or false story message passed