After 98 harrowing days in captivity, Hamisu, a resident of Mashaya community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, has regained his freedom but with deep physical and emotional scars.
Hamisu, who was abducted alongside his brother and his brother’s wife nearly four months ago, was released on Wednesday morning in Marnona town, Wurno LGA. According to Katsina-based security expert Malam Bakatsine, a driver quietly brought the frail and trembling man into the town, ending a traumatic period marked by fear, violence, and uncertainty.
His return, though a relief to the community, was bittersweet. His sister-in-law died in captivity, while his brother had managed to escape earlier, leaving Hamisu alone with the abductors. Witnesses said he appeared exhausted, disoriented, and emotionally broken.
News of his release spread quickly across Mashaya, where residents expressed both joy and grief — celebrating his survival while mourning the lives lost and demanding clarity on the circumstances surrounding the ordeal.
Hamisu’s experience mirrors thousands of similar tragedies unfolding across Nigeria as the country confronts an escalating wave of violence. Amnesty International reports that at least 10,217 people have been killed by armed groups since the current administration assumed office two years ago.
Concerns are rising globally as well. U.S. lawmakers recently warned President Bola Tinubu that Washington would hold him responsible if attacks targeting Christians continue, describing the killings as “religious cleansing.” On Wednesday, the U.S. government imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians linked to violations of religious freedom, particularly those accused of orchestrating or supporting attacks on Christian communities.
Meanwhile, thousands of families across northern and Middle Belt states continue to flee their homes, deepening what analysts describe as a worsening humanitarian crisis.
