At least 25 children abducted from Kebbi, Kwara and Niger states have reportedly died while in the custody of terrorists, with their remains buried in the forests, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Saidu Baba-Ahmed, has disclosed.
Baba-Ahmed, who represents Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena constituency of Kaiama Local Government Area, disclosed this while speaking on the condition of the victims who regained their freedom after spending about six months in captivity.
The lawmaker said 315 victims were released on Thursday night following sustained military operations and other efforts by security agencies.
According to him, the figure included 308 people rescued from terrorist captivity in forests across Kwara and Niger states, as well as seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, who were abducted last week.
Baba-Ahmed said 12 young men who were abducted during the Woro attack had voluntarily joined the terrorists’ ranks and were therefore not among those released.
“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.
The lawmaker further disclosed that 25 children from Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states died during their captivity, with some reportedly dying while being transported through the forest.
“25 children from Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states also died in captivity and some died in transit and they were buried there,” he said.
He added that 176 people were abducted from Kwara State, out of whom 163 had regained their freedom, while 15 remained missing.
Baba-Ahmed also disclosed that two women who were abducted while pregnant returned from captivity with babies.
“None of the women came with pregnancy but two women who were kidnapped with pregnancy came back with two babies,” he said, adding that the victims told authorities that the abductors did not sexually assault them.
The rescued victims arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, late Thursday, where 46 of them were taken to a hospital for medical attention.
The lawmaker said the Kwara State Government was providing care for the victims while authorities assessed their physical and psychological condition before they would be reunited with their families.
He commended the Federal and Kwara State governments, as well as the security agencies, for their efforts towards securing the release of the abducted residents.
The victims were initially received at the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, after being transported from Niger State. They were later moved to an undisclosed location where they spent the night before being presented to state authorities.
The victims were abducted during the February 3 attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, when armed terrorists invaded the community, killed several residents and kidnapped scores of people.
The attack triggered widespread concern and prompted intensified military and security operations aimed at rescuing the victims.
Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, while receiving some of the rescued victims in Ilorin, described the Woro attack as a “sad” and “regrettable” incident.
The governor received the victims, comprising mainly women and children, from the Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume.
AbdulRazaq commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his swift response and support to the state following the attack.
He also disclosed that the President had approved the establishment of five new Army battalions in Omu-Aran, Patigi, Ilemona, Kosubosu and Kaiama.
The governor said the additional military formations would strengthen security operations and help protect communities across the state.
The return of the abductees marks a major breakthrough in efforts to secure the release of victims of the Woro attack, although authorities are still working to establish the full number of those rescued, those missing and the circumstances surrounding deaths reported during the period of captivity.
