Zarah Abubakar Shehu, a 21-year-old student from the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), died in captivity after being abducted in November 2024. Despite a ransom payment, her kidnappers demanded additional items before releasing her. After months in captivity, she passed away, marking another tragic case of student abductions in Nigeria.
In a tragic incident, 21-year-old Zarah Abubakar Shehu, a student at the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), died in captivity after being abducted in November 2024. Zarah, along with her siblings, was taken from their home in Gusau, Zamfara, by suspected bandits. Initially, the kidnappers demanded N35 million for her release but later reduced the ransom to N10 million. Despite receiving the payment, the kidnappers held Zarah captive, later insisting on four motorcycles and engine oil before she could be freed.
Efforts to meet the demands continued for months, but when the kidnappers were informed that the requested items had been provided, they revealed the heartbreaking news that Zarah had passed away and was buried two days earlier. Zarah's death follows a disturbing trend of student abductions in Nigeria, a crisis that has escalated over recent years, with several universities targeted by kidnappers.
The case highlights the severe security challenges in the country, as multiple universities have faced similar abduction incidents. This particular case adds to the growing number of victims of the violent banditry that has plagued northern Nigeria, further intensifying concerns over the safety of students and citizens alike.
