“Abeg, Have Mercy on Us”: Cries in the Forest: Captives Plead for Mercy from Armed Fulani Herdsmen [VIDEO]

 

Tears mingled with sweat and fear as the jungle bore silent witness to a harrowing scene — a group of passengers, abducted along a notorious stretch of highway in Nigeria’s north-central region, clung to life and hope, pleading for mercy from their captors.

Shaky mobile phone footage, leaked by a local source and now circulating widely across social media platforms, shows a disturbing reality. Several of the kidnapped victims, visibly dehydrated, barefoot, and bruised, are seen kneeling or sitting helplessly on bare earth beneath the forest canopy. Their voices, hoarse from desperation, echoed with a simple yet gut-wrenching plea: “Abeg, have mercy on us.”

The kidnappers, alleged to be Fulani herdsmen operating as part of a growing banditry network in the region, reportedly seized the passengers earlier this week. According to multiple sources familiar with the incident, the abductions occurred along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, a route that has become infamous for such attacks in recent years.

Children were among those taken. Elderly passengers, unable to flee or resist, were dragged into the bush like the rest. One woman, believed to be a nursing mother, could be seen in the video clutching a baby to her chest as she wept uncontrollably.

Despite numerous government promises to rein in the chaos on Nigerian highways, such tragic scenes have become almost routine. Witnesses to the abduction — drivers and passersby who managed to escape — described how the attackers emerged from the surrounding thickets with sophisticated firearms, halting traffic before singling out vehicles. The operation, they said, took less than ten minutes.

One survivor, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, recounted the terrifying moment. “We heard gunshots ahead, and then the car in front of us suddenly swerved off the road. Before we could reverse, they had surrounded us. I jumped into the bush and crawled until I couldn’t hear voices anymore,” he said.

The hostage-takers have reportedly contacted some of the families, demanding ransom amounts ranging from ₦5 million to ₦15 million per person — a price far beyond the reach of most of the victims’ families.

What adds another layer of urgency to the situation is the disturbing pattern of abuse and neglect often meted out to captives. Security analysts and human rights observers have noted that abductees in such circumstances face prolonged physical and psychological trauma. In some cases, those who fail to meet ransom deadlines are executed to send a message.

A community elder in one of the affected towns near Kagarko LGA expressed frustration and heartbreak. “Our people are being hunted like animals,” he said during a phone interview. “The government says they are doing their best, but where is the best? We have turned to prayer because that is all we have left.”

As of this report, the Nigerian Police Force has neither confirmed the exact number of those kidnapped nor the identity of the perpetrators. However, a senior officer within the Kaduna State command, speaking anonymously, stated that joint security operatives are combing the area and that drone surveillance is being considered.

“The terrain is rough and vast, but we are not relenting,” he said. “We are working with local vigilantes and community leaders to trace the abductors’ movements. We know the clock is ticking.”

The Nigerian government has repeatedly come under fire for its handling of security challenges, particularly banditry and kidnapping for ransom. President Bola Tinubu, during a recent press conference, reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring peace across volatile zones. However, critics argue that more actionable results are needed, not just promises.

Families of the kidnapped continue to wait — clinging to hope, drowning in anxiety. Some have begun crowdfunding online, while others have resorted to selling property and valuables to gather the ransom. One relative, nearly in tears, told reporters, “Every second that passes feels like a knife through my chest. We don’t even know if they’re still alive.”

Humanitarian agencies have also condemned the ongoing kidnappings and called on both the government and regional bodies to prioritize citizens’ safety. “This isn’t just a security issue. It’s a humanitarian crisis,” said Mariam Adamu, a spokesperson for the Centre for Peace and Rural Development.

As the country grapples with the overwhelming wave of insecurity, stories like this are no longer rare. Yet, each one remains uniquely heartbreaking — a testament to lives interrupted, dreams deferred, and a nation still searching for safety in the shadows.

The captives’ final words in the video remain etched in the minds of all who have seen it. Voices trembling with exhaustion and fear, they cry: “Abeg, have mercy on us.” The question is — who is listening?

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