Abducted Nigerian Monarch Shown in Video as Ransom Deadline Passes

Kidnappers in northwest Nigeria have released a video showing a traditional ruler with his hands tied and clothes stained with blood, more than three weeks after seizing him.

The video, which spread widely online, depicts the monarch in captivity, according to a report by Daily Trust. The development has heightened concern over the safety of traditional leaders in a region long affected by banditry.

Isa Muhammad Bawa, the District Head of Gatawa in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Zamfara state, has appealed directly to the state government for assistance. The appeal came after the deadline set by the abductors for payment of a ransom had passed without resolution.

The ruler has been held for 22 days at the time the video emerged. Zamfara is one of several states in Nigeria's northwest where armed criminal groups, often called bandits, carry out frequent abductions for ransom, targeting residents, travellers and community leaders.

Such incidents have strained relations between local communities and authorities, who are expected to respond to the security threat. Traditional rulers often serve as important intermediaries in rural governance and conflict resolution in the area.

The video's circulation adds pressure on both state and federal levels to address the persistent challenge of banditry that has displaced thousands and disrupted agriculture in the northwest for years.

Local officials have not yet issued a public statement on the latest appeal or the video's authenticity, according to available reports. The case highlights the continued vulnerability of traditional institutions amid ongoing insecurity.

Based on reporting by Daily Trust.