A retired Nigerian general and his wife have been kidnapped in the north-west of the country, the latest blow to a region already buckling under a wave of abductions and armed violence. The incident occurred late on Tuesday in the state of Kaduna, a flashpoint for clashes between security forces and criminal gangs known locally as bandits.
Local police confirmed the abduction but refused to give details, citing an ongoing rescue operation. The general, who served in the Nigerian Army under previous administrations, was seized from his home along with his wife. The kidnappers have not yet made contact, according to sources close to the family.
This is a crisis that cuts to the bone. For ordinary Nigerians, the abduction of a high-ranking military figure signals that no one is safe. The north-west has become a battleground where schools, villages and even major roads are prey to criminals who operate with near impunity. Farmers have abandoned their fields. Markets have closed early. The price of food has soared as supply chains are choked by fear.
The government has deployed troops and launched air strikes. But the problem is not just military. It is economic. These gangs thrive on poverty and unemployment. Young men with no prospects are lured into banditry as a livelihood. The state has offered amnesty and skills training, but the root rot is deep. Ransom payments have become a cottage industry, with millions of naira flowing into criminal hands.
For the family of the general, the wait is agonising. Kidnappers often demand huge sums, and the psychological toll is immense. But for millions of Nigerians, this is a daily reality. The economy of the north-west is bleeding on every level: lost productivity, trauma, and a gnawing sense that the state cannot protect its people.
The government must do more than just rescue. It needs to rebuild. Schools need reopening. Roads need safeguarding. Farmers need access to land. Until the economic desperation that fuels this violence is addressed, the abductions will continue. The retired general and his wife are the latest faces of a crisis that touches every kitchen table in the region.
