Ishaya Kuka, the brother of Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah, has spoken about his painful experience after being kidnapped.

He was taken on March 5, 2025, along with six others in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State. Luckily, he was rescued by Nigerian Army troops on April 7 in a joint operation with other security agencies. A total of 60 people – 35 men and 25 women – were saved during this mission.

After his rescue, Ishaya shared how he suffered terribly in the bush. He said the kidnappers chained them in pairs, and they had to move together even to use the toilet. The victims were also beaten badly until they agreed to pay ransom. Ishaya said he had lost hope of ever being free again.

“I really thought I wouldn’t survive,” he said. “We suffered so much. They chained us in twos. If you wanted to urinate or defecate, you had to go together. They beat us until we said we’d pay money.”

He thanked the Nigerian government and security forces for rescuing them. “If not for them, we would still be in the bush. Thank you. God bless you,” he added.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the rescue was part of ongoing efforts by the government under President Bola Tinubu to end insecurity. He warned families not to pay ransom because it encourages more kidnappings.

“Please, stop giving money to these criminals,” Ribadu said. “It’s making our work harder. We’ve never paid a ransom, and we don’t want anyone else to. It only makes things worse.”

He urged Nigerians to trust the government and allow them to do their job. He promised that justice will be served and the fight against banditry will continue until Nigeria is safe again.