Twenty-five children abducted by terrorists in Kwara, Niger and Kebbi states reportedly died while in captivity and were buried in the forest, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly has disclosed.
Hon. Saidu Baba-Ahmed, who represents the Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena constituency in Kaiama Local Government Area, made the disclosure while speaking about the condition of 315 kidnapping victims who regained their freedom after spending about six months in captivity.
According to the lawmaker, the 315 freed victims comprised 308 people rescued from forests in Kwara and Niger states, as well as seven students who were abducted from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Ogun State.
Baba-Ahmed further disclosed that 12 young men who were among the abductees chose to remain with the terrorists after volunteering to join their ranks.
He explained that the terrorists had asked the youths in their custody who wanted to join their group, with 12 reportedly accepting the offer. As a result, they were not included among those released.
The lawmaker also revealed that 25 children from Kwara, Niger and Kebbi states died while in captivity or during movement through the forest and were subsequently buried there.
Giving a breakdown of the victims from Kwara State, Baba-Ahmed said 176 people were abducted, while 163 have so far regained their freedom. He added that 15 victims from the state are still unaccounted for.
Women Returned With Babies
The lawmaker also provided an update on the female victims who were released, saying none of the women returned pregnant as a result of alleged sexual assault.
However, he said two women who were already pregnant when they were abducted returned with newborn babies.
According to Baba-Ahmed, the women were questioned and examined after their release and reportedly told authorities that they had not been sexually assaulted by their abductors.
Freed Victims Receive Medical Attention
Following their release, the victims were taken to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where 46 of them received immediate medical attention.
State authorities are currently overseeing their medical assessments and other necessary support before they are reunited with their families.
Most of the victims were among those abducted during the attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area on February 3.
They were later received at the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Sobi Barracks, in Ilorin, following coordinated military operations carried out in parts of Niger State.
The freed victims were subsequently received by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq from the Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume.
