Auchi, Edo State – October 22, 2025 – A harrowing video of a terrified Nigerian woman begging for her life has gone viral, thrusting the escalating kidnapping crisis in Edo State into the national spotlight. Aisha Wahab, a 28-year-old trader from Igbira Camp in Auchi, was abducted by gunmen on Saturday, October 18, and her captors are now demanding a staggering ₦20 million ransom, issuing a chilling ultimatum for payment by 5 p.m. today or face execution.
In the disturbing footage circulating widely on social media platforms like X and WhatsApp, Aisha appears disheveled and trembling, her voice cracking as an armed kidnapper presses a gun barrel against her head and chest. “Please, help me! They will kpa me if you don’t pay! My family doesn’t have this money—Nigerians, save me!” she cries out, her pleas laced with sobs and desperation, invoking the coded slang “kpa” to evade potential censorship while underscoring the imminent threat of death. The video, which has amassed millions of views since emerging on Monday, ends abruptly with the gunman shoving her aside, amplifying the raw fear gripping viewers.
Aisha’s family, overwhelmed and financially strained, confirmed the abduction occurred while she was returning from a local market, a routine errand that turned into a nightmare amid rising insecurity in the region. “We’ve sold everything—our shop, jewelry, even borrowed from neighbors—but ₦20 million is impossible for us,” her elder brother, Musa Wahab, told reporters, his voice breaking as he appealed to the public for donations and urged security forces to intervene. The family has set up a crowdfunding link shared alongside the video, but progress has been slow, with only a fraction raised so far.
This abduction is the latest in a string of high-profile kidnappings plaguing Edo State, where residents accuse Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration of failing to curb the surge. Just last July, two seminarians were snatched from the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Auchi, resulting in the death of an NSCDC officer during a botched rescue. Locals describe the area as a “kidnappers’ haven,” with one anonymous resident lamenting, “Edo is becoming the heartbeat of crime—security tracks activists faster than bandits.” The Edo State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on Aisha’s case, though sources indicate a joint task force is mobilizing, echoing criticisms of delayed responses in similar incidents.
The video has ignited a firestorm online, with #SaveAishaWahab trending on X as celebrities, activists, and everyday Nigerians rally in solidarity. Heart-wrenching posts flood timelines: “This is beyond heartbreaking—how many more videos before action?” one user wrote, while another shared, “From Chibok to Auchi, our women pay the price for government silence.” Calls for nationwide protests and stricter anti-kidnapping measures have gained traction, drawing parallels to the unresolved Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar case earlier this year, where a student’s murder after ransom delays shocked the nation.
As the clock ticks toward the 5 p.m. deadline, Aisha’s fate hangs in the balance, a stark symbol of Nigeria’s deepening security woes. Advocacy groups like the Bring Back Our Girls Movement have renewed demands for federal intervention, warning that without systemic reforms, such pleas will only multiply.
For updates and ways to contribute safely, contact Aisha’s family via verified channels or follow developments on major Nigerian news outlets. Authorities urge the public not to engage directly with kidnappers.