Graphic Photo Released by Terrorists Shows Continued Captivity of Slain Kaduna Priest's Wife and Daughter

KADUNA STATE, Nigeria — Terrorists have released a chilling new photograph of the wife and daughter of an Anglican priest they murdered last month, escalating fears for the hostages' safety and demonstrating a shocking new level of psychological warfare.

The image, which began circulating online Wednesday, shows Sarah Achi and her daughter seated on the ground in an undisclosed location, with a gunman pointing a rifle directly at them. The release of this graphic photo marks a disturbing intensification in a kidnapping case that has already ended in tragedy.

A Family Targeted: A Priest Murdered, His Family Held

The ordeal began on October 28, 2025, when armed men stormed the family residence in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. They abducted Venerable Edwin Achi, his wife Sarah, and their daughter.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₦200 million and threatened to kill their captives. Tragically, they executed their threat against the priest, murdering Ven. Edwin Achi before the ransom deadline had even expired.

A Plea for Help and Growing Despair

The latest photo was confirmed by a family member, identified as Avril, who appealed directly to journalist Rufai Oseni on the social media platform X. "Please keep pushing the news that Ven. Edwin Achi's wife Sarah Achi is still in captivity," he wrote. He described the terrorists' current demands as "incoherent," indicating a breakdown in communication and a heightened state of danger for the hostages.

Alongside the plea, Avril posted the heart-wrenching image with a caption that captured a nation's anguish over its security crisis: "This is not a country." The statement reflects a growing sentiment of helplessness and anger among Nigerians facing relentless kidnappings and violence.

A Gruesome Tactic in a Wider Crisis

The public dissemination of such a photo represents a calculated act of terror. Experts note that by releasing these images, kidnappers aim to exert maximum psychological pressure on the victims' families and the broader public, demonstrating their power and the government's perceived inability to protect its citizens.

This case is not isolated. Kaduna State, along with much of Nigeria's northwest and north-central regions, has been plagued by banditry and kidnapping for years. Criminal gangs, often labeled as terrorists, have turned abductions into a lucrative industry, targeting schools, villages, highways, and homes with impunity.

The continued captivity of Sarah Achi and her daughter, now visually documented under the threat of a gun, underscores the brutal reality of this crisis and the urgent, unmet demand for effective security and rescue operations.

*Source: Linda Ikeji's Blog, with additional context from other online sources.*

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