Tragedy in Kaduna as 13-year-old girl dies hours after seven months in bandits’ captivity

A 13-year-old girl, Hassana Bulus, has died just hours after regaining her freedom from bandits who abducted her from Awon village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, bringing a tragic end to seven months of captivity.

Hassana, who was kidnapped alongside several other residents on April 20, 2026, reportedly died on November 3 while receiving medical attention at a health facility in Kachia, barely a day after her release from the kidnappers.

Her death was confirmed on Thursday by Reuben Buhari, former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the late Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.

Buhari disclosed the development in a post on his verified Facebook page, expressing sadness over the death of the teenager after months of suffering in the hands of her abductors.

According to him, Hassana was seized from her home alongside other victims when armed bandits invaded the community on April 20 and subsequently took them into the bush.

The teenager reportedly remained in captivity for seven months before her captors released her on November 2.

She was subsequently rushed to a hospital in Kachia for medical attention but died a few hours later, on November 3.

READ ALSO; Bandits kill humanitarian worker, shoot father in Sokoto attack

In his account, Buhari described the teenager’s ordeal as a painful experience no child should be subjected to.

“For seven long months, this little girl was held captive in the bush, enduring pain and horrors no 13-year-old should ever have to see, let alone live through.

“She was finally freed on November 2 and taken to a hospital in Kachia. On November 3, just a few hours after tasting freedom, she died. May her gentle soul rest in peace,” he wrote.

Hassana’s death has drawn attention to the devastating human cost of prolonged abductions, particularly the vulnerability of children caught in the wave of insecurity affecting parts of Kaduna State.

Her case also highlights the trauma and possible health complications victims may face after spending extended periods in captivity, even after securing their release.

The circumstances surrounding her death, including the nature of her illness and the medical treatment she received, were not immediately disclosed.

There was also no immediate information on whether the other victims abducted alongside her had regained their freedom.

The tragedy adds to concerns over persistent bandit attacks, kidnappings and prolonged captivity in communities across Kaduna State, where residents continue to face threats to their safety and livelihoods.

For Hassana’s family, however, the end of seven months of uncertainty and anguish has turned into another painful experience, as the young girl died shortly after the freedom they had awaited.