Six months in captivity: How 13 children lost their lives in Kwara abduction

The rescue of 163 residents abducted from communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State has brought an end to a six-month ordeal marked by hunger, harsh conditions and the tragic loss of children.

Among the survivors was Saliu Amira, a nurse, who recounted the difficult conditions endured by the captives while in the custody of their abductors.

Amira said about 13 children died during the period of captivity, while another 12 children reportedly followed their abductors, bringing the number of affected children to about 25.

According to her, the captives were provided with very little food and were exposed to extremely difficult living conditions.

“The kind of food that they are giving us over there… The day that we reached there, they just dropped guinea corn for us with salt and Maggi,” Amira said.

She added that the captives were left in a riverine environment, where they struggled to survive for months.

The account offered a grim insight into the ordeal faced by the residents who were taken hostage following attacks on communities in Kaiama LGA.

Nicholas Rume, commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, said the successful rescue was the result of coordinated efforts by various security agencies.

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He described the operation as an example of the benefits of cooperation among Nigeria’s security forces.

“Today I am happy to introduce to you the people whom, through the combined efforts of the security agencies, we have been able to rescue,” Rume said.

He expressed appreciation to the agencies involved, saying their cooperation had contributed significantly to the successful operation.

The rescued victims were subsequently received in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Friday.

Survivors Receive Medical Care

Abdulrazaq commended the security agencies for rescuing the victims and said the establishment of a new army brigade would further strengthen security across the state.

The governor disclosed that 46 of the rescued victims had been hospitalised and were receiving medical treatment at a government facility.

He said the state government had directed that all the survivors receive appropriate medical attention to support their recovery.

“I have since directed that the appropriate medical attention be extended to everyone to ensure their well-being. Prior to this time, our government has extended various forms of support to the rural community,” he said.

The intervention is expected to address not only the immediate medical needs of the survivors but also the wider humanitarian consequences of their prolonged captivity.

The February Attack

The victims were among residents abducted on February 3 after armed assailants attacked Woro, Nuku and other communities in Kaiama Local Government Area.

The attacks reportedly left at least 75 people dead, displaced residents and caused extensive disruption across the affected communities.

Although the precise number of people abducted was initially unclear, reports indicated that about 170 residents, including women and children, were taken hostage.

For families who spent months without knowing the fate of their loved ones, the release of the survivors offered a measure of relief, while the reported deaths of children underscored the devastating human cost of the prolonged crisis.

On August 5, the Kwara State Government announced that the abducted residents had been released after spending approximately six months in captivity.

For the survivors, however, freedom marks only the beginning of another difficult journey — one involving medical care, emotional recovery and the painstaking process of rebuilding lives disrupted by violence and prolonged captivity.