Anger Mounts as Jos Entrepreneur Spends Second Day in Captivity

It has been 48 hours since Allwell Nelson, a young entrepreneur serving with Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps, was abducted from her family residence in Dong, a community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. Nelson was reportedly kidnapped alongside her brother, a student of the University of Jos.

Sources close to the family said that the kidnappers broke into the home late on Sunday, Sept. 7, as relatives were settling in for the night. Allwell’s brother-in-law, Solomon Dansura, told journalists that the attackers gained access through a window. By the time he returned after seeking help, the corps member and the student had been taken.

The kidnappers have since demanded ₦50 million, a sum far beyond the family’s reach. Supporters have turned to social media to raise funds while negotiations continue.

“Imagine people teaching us how to negotiate with criminals,” said Abisola Lawal, a family friend who first shared news of the abduction on X, a platform where Allwell is well known. “No one is even talking about tracking their calls or bringing them to justice.”

The state government and the Plateau State Police Command have not commented publicly, as repeated calls to its police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, went unanswered.

Dong community has become synonymous with insecurity in recent years, suffering armed herder attacks and repeated kidnappings. Local leaders fear this latest case will further drive families out, leaving the community deserted.  

For the Nelsons, however, the concern is immediate: bringing their children home alive. 

Disclosure: This news story was drafted with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor. Some of the reporting was conducted on the ground by our correspondent.