What is your relationship with the kidnapped victim?
I am the younger brother of Dania Scott. I am a final-year student of Human Anatomy at Edo State University, Iyamho.
My brother is the firstborn in our family. He is a graduate of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, where he studied Computer Science and graduated last year. He also turned 23 just last week.
How old are you?
I am 21 years old.
Are you originally from Edo State?
Yes, we are originally from Edo State, and my parents, siblings, and I all reside in Auchi, Edo State.
Can you walk us through what happened on the day he was kidnapped?
He had gone out earlier and was returning with his friends later that night. Although I cannot confirm where they had been, they arrived at about 10 or 11 pm. He was abducted right in front of the apartment gate in Ekpoma.
When exactly did this occur?
It happened on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.
To clarify, was your brother living alone or with others at the time?
He was staying with his friends in a shared apartment, and they were all kidnapped.
He had gone to stay with them because he was preparing for his NYSC.
Could you share how your family first became aware of the incident?
One of his associates contacted my mother to inform her. She then relayed the information to my father, and that was how the family became aware of the situation.
Was the person who made that call among those who were abducted?
No, he was not. From what I understand, he is a neighbour or someone within the vicinity who witnessed or became aware of the incident.
You mentioned that others were taken alongside him. Have they been released?
Yes, the others who were abducted with him have since been released.
What details were they able to provide about what happened?
They were about five in number, and at least two of them were masked. That is all we have been able to gather so far.
Did those who had been freed indicate anything about the kidnappers’ identity or how they communicated?
They mentioned that the kidnappers spoke Hausa, but beyond that, no clear details about their identity were provided.
Prior to this incident, were there any warning signs—threats, disputes, or anything unusual your brother may have mentioned?
None at all. To the best of my knowledge, there were no threats or conflicts. He is a very friendly person and generally well-liked.
At the time this happened, were you all together as a family?
Yes, I live with my parents, and my brother also stays with us. However, he had travelled to Ekpoma at the time for personal engagements; he had been preparing for his youth service.
How has this situation affected you personally?
It has been deeply devastating. My entire family is shaken, and personally, I have been struggling to come to terms with it. As I mentioned earlier, I am a final-year student at Edo State University, and this situation has made it extremely difficult for me to focus, especially as academic activities have resumed.
My school resumed for the second semester, and my coursemates have already begun their project work.
However, I have not been able to return. It is extremely difficult to focus on my studies while my brother is still missing. At this point, my priority is his safety, and it has been mentally and emotionally overwhelming.
It has been a devastating and frustrating experience for my entire family and me.
How are your parents coping with the situation?
It has been very hard on them, especially my mother. She has been managing hypertension for many years, and this situation has significantly affected her health.
She is naturally very emotional, and this has taken a serious toll on her. As we speak, she is unwell and resting. She developed symptoms this morning—possibly a fever—and her condition has worsened under the stress.
So, did you receive any communication from the kidnappers? What exactly did they say regarding the situation?
Yes. At some point, they contacted us through my brother’s phone line.
At that time, my brother was with three of his friends.
The other three have been released. Their families were able to raise the ransom demanded for them.
What exactly did the kidnappers demand from your family?
They initially demanded N52m, then later reduced it to N35m, N25m and N20m. On that Thursday, they called us and asked how much we had; we said N5m, and they said we should bring it.
What kind of additional items did they request?
They instructed us to also provide food items and a power bank.
Did they specify why these items were needed?
They did not give a clear reason, but they insisted everything be provided along with the cash.
Were you able to meet their demands on time?
We tried to gather everything, but there were delays. We also had to convert funds to cash as they specifically demanded physical cash.
Was there any issue with location or timing?
Yes. We do not reside in the Ekpoma/Esan area; we live in Auchi. However, the families of the other boys are based in Ekpoma, which created logistical delays in meeting the kidnappers’ demands on time.
During this period, my father was trying to coordinate the arrangements while the kidnappers repeatedly called him. He consistently informed them that preparations were still ongoing.
Unfortunately, we were unable to personally deliver anything because my father could not get there on time. For the other boys, however, a young man voluntarily assisted in delivering the items as instructed to the designated location.
So, was the ransom actually paid?
At that point, the N5m had not been directly handed over by us due to the delays and communication breakdown. Afterward, we were no longer able to reach them, and it appears they may have changed location.
Did they give any final update?
Yes. At some point, they informed him (my father) that they would not be able to proceed that day. They said they would release the other boys first and then contact us the following day regarding my brother’s release; probably they were trying to change their location.
Did they eventually call back?
No. Since that Friday, we have not heard from them again.
Did they provide a specific contact number you could reach them on?
They only communicated with us using my brother’s phone number. That was the only line they used to contact us.
We tried calling them repeatedly every day, but the line never went through.
Have you reported the matter to the authorities?
Yes, we reported the case to the police in Auchi and the police in Iruekpen.
What has been the response from the police?
The police informed us that the case would be transferred to the state CID.
What steps have you taken to seek help before deciding to speak about this on TikTok?
Before coming out publicly, we were advised by several people to remain patient. However, over time, the situation became more concerning. It has now been about 17 days without any communication from them, and the silence has become increasingly alarming.
Are you worried about your brother’s safety at this point?
Yes, deeply. The uncertainty is very difficult, especially with the number of days that have passed without any communication.
Do you feel the police are doing enough?
Honestly, not in the way we expected. We appreciate that they are involved, but we do not feel there is enough visible progress or urgency.
What do you think about the response so far?
It feels inadequate. Not everyone has the privilege of remaining unaffected while waiting for solutions. People need urgent help.
Staying silent does not feel like an option anymore. It feels like suffering in silence without any resolution in sight. We have been told repeatedly to keep waiting, but the question is—how long are we expected to wait?
In your opinion, what are the gaps in handling cases like this in Nigeria?
I believe one major issue is the limitation faced by both civilians and, in some cases, the response system. As ordinary citizens, there is very little we can do once a situation like this escalates.
However, security agencies have the structure, intelligence capacity, and operational reach to respond more effectively.
If properly coordinated, they can intervene faster and possibly prevent prolonged situations like this.
At the moment, we feel almost helpless—waiting and hoping for communication that may or may not come.
Unfortunately, kidnapping has become increasingly common, and that reality makes these situations even more distressing for affected families.
How does it feel, considering this is something you’ve only previously heard about in the news, and now you are personally affected?
It feels overwhelming and deeply painful. It is getting worse, and from our perspective, there is very little being done to improve the situation.
How has this experience changed your perception of safety and everyday life?
Honestly, it has made everything feel more uncertain. The insecurity is worsening, and there does not seem to be any effective intervention to address it.
What is your view on how the situation has developed over time?
This kidnapping issue has been escalating for some time; it has become more widespread and increasingly frequent.
We started raising concerns as citizens, but there has been no clear improvement. Instead, the situation appears to have continued deteriorating. That lack of progress is deeply concerning.
What kind of help are you calling for now?
We are calling for urgent intervention from the appropriate government authorities, as well as attention from public figures, media professionals, and individuals with influence online.
We are asking them to use their platforms responsibly to raise awareness of this issue and ensure the relevant authorities take decisive, effective action.
What would it mean to you if your brother returned safely?
It would mean everything to us. Honestly, it would mean the world to me, especially to my mother. My mum is very sick, my dad is sad, my siblings are worried—it has been a devastating moment for us.
He is the first child in our family, and he plays a very central role in our lives. He is someone we all look up to, and his absence has created a huge emotional gap in our home.
It is difficult to explain the impact fully, but his safe return would bring immense relief and healing to our family.
We need help. We want my brother to return safely. We haven’t been able to sleep since this happened.