“₦20 million Raised, Fear Turns to Relief” — Kidnapped Auchi Girl Aisha Wahab Freed After Ransom Payment

Aisha Wahab, the young woman abducted by gunmen in Auchi, Edo State, on October 18, has regained her freedom after her family and supporters successfully raised the ₦20 million ransom demanded by her captors.

Her release on October 24 followed an intensive social media campaign led by human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who launched an online fundraiser that drew donations from concerned Nigerians.

Aisha’s kidnapping had earlier sparked national concern after a heartbreaking video of her mother’s plea went viral. The distraught woman, speaking from their modest home, begged influential Nigerians including logistics manager Isreal DMW, as well as the wider public, to help save her daughter’s life.

She revealed at the time that the abductors initially demanded ₦30 million, but later reduced it to ₦20 million after persistent pleas from the family a sum far beyond their means.

“As you see me, I cannot eat. I am only thinking because of Aisha,” she had cried, explaining that she and her daughter survived by selling vegetables and leaves in the local market. “I don’t have anything. I am a poor woman with no money.”

The family’s fear intensified when the abductors issued a deadline and threatened to kill Aisha if the ransom was not paid. In another disturbing video, Aisha herself was seen pleading for help as a gunman pointed a weapon at her.

With donations pouring in and the deadline approaching, the family managed to meet the ransom demand, leading to her eventual release. Details of the conditions surrounding the ransom payment and the identity of the kidnappers were not immediately disclosed.

Supporters who had campaigned under the call for help have since expressed relief, though many also raised concerns over rising insecurity and the increasing reliance on public fundraising to rescue kidnap victims.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the case or confirm whether any efforts are underway to track down the perpetrators responsible for the abduction.

Aisha is now safely reunited with her family, bringing a hopeful end to a traumatic ordeal that once again highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable communities across the country.