Twenty-five children abducted from Kebbi, Kwara and Niger states have reportedly died in terrorist captivity, a Kwara lawmaker has disclosed. Hon. Saidu Baba-Ahmed, representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, disclosed this while speaking on the condition of the Kwara kidnapping victims who regained their freedom after spending about six months in captivity.
According to the lawmaker, 336 people were initially abducted during attacks across the affected communities. Of that number, 315 have now regained their freedom. The figure includes 308 victims rescued from terrorist captivity in forests across Kwara and Niger states, alongside seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, who were abducted last week.
Baba-Ahmed said 25 children died while in captivity, with some reportedly dying during movement through the forest. He said the deceased victims were buried in the forest by their captors. The lawmaker also disclosed that 12 young people who were abducted chose to remain with the terrorists after being offered the opportunity to join their ranks.
“The terrorists asked the youths who among them would like to join their army and 12 of them volunteered to join them,” he said.
He added that the 12 youths were therefore not among those released. The lawmaker further disclosed that 176 victims were abducted from Kwara State, with 163 subsequently regaining their freedom, while 15 remained missing. He also said two women who were abducted while pregnant returned with babies after their release.
According to him, the rescued victims arrived in Ilorin and were taken for medical assessment. Forty-six were receiving treatment at a hospital, while the state government was providing care for the returnees before their eventual reunification with their families.
The Kwara kidnapping victims were abducted during the February 3 attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state. The attack reportedly left several residents dead and saw numerous others taken into surrounding forests. Their release followed months of security operations and coordinated efforts by military and other security agencies.
The victims were transported from Niger State to Ilorin late Thursday and initially received at the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Sobi Barracks, before being moved to another location. Receiving the victims in Ilorin, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the February attack as tragic and regrettable. The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention and support following the incident.
AbdulRazaq also disclosed that the President had approved the establishment of five Army battalions in Omu-Aran, Patigi, Ilemona, Kosubosu and Kaiama. The governor said the development would strengthen security coverage across the state and improve efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
The return of the abductees represents a significant breakthrough in efforts to resolve the prolonged crisis. However, the disclosure of deaths in captivity and the continued absence of some victims underline the human cost of the attacks and the challenges facing security agencies in protecting communities across the affected states.
