Uba Sani pledges home and medical care for freed Kaduna family

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has promised to give a home to Ahmed Zakka, his wife Nafisah and their six-month-old daughter Fatima, and to pay for their medical treatment, after the family was freed by kidnappers.

The governor made the pledge on Tuesday when he visited the family at a government safe house in Kaduna, where they are resting after leaving hospital.

The Zakkas were seized from their home in Alrahus Estate, Millennium City, in Chikun Local Government Area on 6 October. They were released on 15 October, nine days later.

Their case drew national attention after a video spread online showing Mr Zakka holding his crying baby while an armed man pointed a rifle at him. In the footage, his wife was seen begging for help, and Mr Zakka said the abductors wanted ₦300 million.

It is still not clear how the family was freed, or whether any money was paid. The authorities have not said.

What the governor promised

According to the governor, the state will provide the family with a home, cover all their medical bills and arrange counselling to help them settle back into normal life.

“The Kaduna State Government will provide them with a home, meet all medical expenses and ensure sustained psychosocial care to help them recover, rebuild their lives and regain a sense of security,” Mr Sani said.

He described their experience as a painful reminder of what insecurity costs ordinary people, and said every resident should be able to live without fear.

Mr Sani said the family's release had made his government more determined to fight banditry, working more closely with security agencies and with communities.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his personal interest in the family's safety, and commended the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the security agencies for helping to bring them home.

The governor said Mr Zakka thanked the federal and state governments and the security agencies for their efforts.

Why it matters

Kidnapping has become a daily worry for many families in Kaduna State, and the video of the Zakkas sharpened public anger and fresh calls for the authorities to act.

For residents of Millennium City and nearby communities, the case is a reminder of how close the danger is. Many now want to see whether the promises of better security are matched by action on the ground.

For the Zakka family, the immediate task is recovery. The governor said his government would stay with them through it.