Kidnapped victims, 2 babies born in terrorists’ camp d!e

At least seven victims abducted during the April attack on worshippers in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have reportedly died in captivity, as fresh accounts from a recently freed captive paint a grim picture of worsening humanitarian conditions inside a terrorists’ camp where dozens of residents have now spent more than three months.

The latest revelation was made by former media aide to the late Kaduna State Governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Mr. Reuben Buhari, in a post on his Facebook page, citing information obtained from one of the victims who recently regained freedom. Blueprint reports

According to Buhari, the freed captive disclosed that seven of the 37 persons kidnapped from Ariko village have died since they were taken away during the Easter Sunday attack.

The deceased were said to include two men, two women and three children.

Bodies allegedly dumped on hillside

According to the survivor’s account, the deceased victims were not given proper burials.

Instead, the bodies were allegedly dragged to a nearby slope and abandoned.

Buhari also shared a photograph of the 37 abducted worshippers which he said was released by the kidnappers six days after the abduction, identifying one of the men in the image as among those who had reportedly died in captivity.

The latest account could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

Babies born in captivity do not survive

The survivor also disclosed that the baby delivered by one of the abducted women inside the terrorists’ camp has died.

The birth had earlier drawn widespread attention after another escapee recounted how fellow female captives were forced to assist the woman during labour without medical supplies or professional care.

According to the earlier testimony, the captors allegedly refused to provide a knife or blade to cut the baby’s umbilical cord, forcing one of the women to use her teeth.

The newborn reportedly survived for almost three weeks before dying in the camp.

The latest account further revealed that another pregnant woman abducted from Awon village on April 20 also gave birth while in captivity about two weeks ago.

However, the baby reportedly died the following day.

The 11 victims abducted from Awon village are now said to be held in the same camp as the Ariko victims.

Victims sleep in the open

The recently freed captive described extremely harsh living conditions inside the camp.

According to the account, the abductees sleep in the open without any form of shelter, leaving them exposed to rain, cold and harsh weather conditions.
Whenever it rains, they are said to spend the night on wet ground.

The survivor added that many of the remaining children in captivity are ill, with deteriorating health conditions caused by prolonged exposure, hunger and lack of medical attention.

Earlier testimonies from other escapees had also described widespread malnutrition, skin infections and poor sanitation inside the camp.

One 65-year-old woman who escaped after spending 54 days in captivity had narrated how captives survived on boiled leaves, mangoes and stream water, while many were deliberately kept barefoot to prevent escape attempts.

She eventually regained freedom after trekking barefoot through the forest for three days.

More than 100 days in captivity

According to Buhari, the 37 victims abducted from Ariko village have now spent 110 days in captivity, while the 11 residents kidnapped from neighbouring Awon village have remained in the same camp for 95 days.

He appealed to Nigerians to continue praying for the victims and their families, expressing hope that they would soon regain their freedom.

The latest development comes amid persistent attacks on communities in Kachia Local Government Area.

Only recently, terrorists invaded Ungwan Atiku village, killing one resident and abducting 11 others, including three nursing mothers and their suckling babies, further deepening concerns over the worsening security situation in Southern Kaduna.

Residents have repeatedly called on security agencies to intensify rescue operations and dismantle criminal camps operating in forests across the area to secure the release of those still being held.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, neither answered telephone calls nor responded to a text message seeking his comments before this report was filed.