At least 25 children abducted by terrorists in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states have reportedly died in captivity, while 12 youths allegedly joined the terrorists’ ranks and were not among those recently released.
The disclosure was made by Saidu Baba-Ahmed, the lawmaker representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena constituency of Kaiama Local Government Area in the Kwara State House of Assembly.
Baba-Ahmed spoke on Friday while giving an update on the condition of the victims who regained their freedom after spending about six months in terrorist captivity.
According to the lawmaker, a total of 336 people were abducted during attacks across the affected communities, while 315 victims were eventually released.
He said the figure included 308 people rescued from terrorist captivity in the forests of Kwara and Niger states, as well as seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, who were abducted last week.
12 youths allegedly joined terrorists
Baba-Ahmed said 12 young people among the abductees volunteered to join the terrorists after they were allegedly asked whether they wanted to become members of their group.
“The terrorists asked the youths who among them would like to join their army and 12 of them volunteered to join them. So, those youths are not among those who were released,” he said.
He also disclosed that 25 children from Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states died while in captivity.
“25 children from Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states also died in captivity and some died in transit and they were buried there,” the lawmaker said.
According to him, 176 people were abducted from Kwara State, with 163 subsequently regaining their freedom, while 15 others remain missing.
Two pregnant women returned with babies
The lawmaker also disclosed that two women who were pregnant when they were abducted returned from captivity with babies.
He said medical checks conducted after their release showed that none of the women was still pregnant.
“None of the women came with pregnancy but two women who were kidnapped with pregnancy came back with two babies,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed said the women told authorities that their abductors did not sexually assault them.
The circumstances surrounding the pregnancies and births remain unclear.
46 victims receiving medical attention
The rescued victims arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where they were taken to a hospital for medical assessment.
Baba-Ahmed said 46 of the victims were receiving medical attention while the state government was taking responsibility for their treatment and welfare.
The exercise, he said, was aimed at assessing their physical and psychological condition before they were reunited with their families.
He commended both the Federal and Kwara State governments for their efforts in securing the release of the abducted persons.
Woro attack
The victims were among those abducted during the deadly attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on February 3.
The terrorists reportedly invaded the community, killed several residents and abducted a large number of people before taking them into the surrounding forests.
The attack generated widespread concern and prompted intensified military and security operations aimed at rescuing the victims.
Following sustained operations and coordination among security agencies, the abductees were eventually released and transported from Niger State to Ilorin on Thursday night.
They were initially received at the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, before being moved to an undisclosed location where they spent the night.
AbdulRazaq: Woro attack ‘sad and regrettable’
Receiving the rescued victims in Ilorin on Friday, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the Woro attack as “sad” and “regrettable”.
The governor received the victims, many of whom were women and children, from the Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume.
AbdulRazaq commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention and support towards securing the release of the abductees.
He 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 move would strengthen security operations and improve the government’s capacity to respond to attacks and protect vulnerable communities across the state.
The return of the abductees represents a major breakthrough in the months-long efforts to secure their freedom, although authorities still face the challenge of accounting for those who remain missing and addressing the physical and psychological impact of the prolonged captivity on the survivors.
