‘13 children died in captivity’ - survivor recounts ordeal of 163 Kwara kidnap victims
A survivor of a mass kidnapping in Nigeria's Kwara state reports that 13 children died during their six-month captivity. The 163 victims were recently rescued by security agencies, and the state government is providing medical care to those affected.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the severe security challenges and humanitarian crises facing rural communities in parts of Nigeria.
About 13 children reportedly died during the six-month captivity of residents abducted from communities in Kaiama LGA of Kwara state.
Saliu Amira, a nurse and one of the 163 victims rescued by security agencies, said 12 other children followed their abductors during the ordeal.
She said the victims endured harsh conditions and were given little food while in captivity.
“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.
“They left us inside the river; the children that died are almost 13, and those people that followed them are 12 in number; that’s 25.”
Nicholas Rume, commander of the 22 armoured brigade, said the victims were rescued through the combined efforts of security agencies.
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