Twenty-five children who were among the 336 persons kidnapped by the terrorists in Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States died in captivity and were buried in the forest.

The lawmaker representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena state constituency of Kaiama local government in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Saidu Baba-Ahmed, disclosed this yesterday while speaking on the conditions of the 315 kidnap victims who regained their freedom on Thursday night after spending six months in captivity.

The figure comprises 308 victims rescued from terrorist captivity in the forests of Kwara and Niger states and seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade in Ogun state who were abducted last week.

The lawmaker, in an interview told Saturday Vanguard that 12 of the youths joined the terrorists’ army and were not among those released by the terrorists. According to him, “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.

“25 children from Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states also died in captivity and some died in transit and they were buried there. A total of 176 victims were kidnapped from Kwara state and 163 regained their freedom. 15 of the victims are still missing now.

“Also, none of the women came with pregnancy but two women who were kidnapped with pregnancy came back with two babies. We checked them properly and discovered that none of them is pregnant, because they told us that their abductors didn’t touch them. But two women who were abducted with pregnancy came back with two babies“.

Hon. Saidu Baba-Ahmed said that those who were set free arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital and 46 of them were receiving medical attention at the hospital. He also said that the state government was taking care of them to ascertain their state of health before reuniting them with their families.

The lawmaker then commended the state and the federal governments for their efforts in ensuring that the abductees returned home safely.

The victims who were abducted during the deadly attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State were received at the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin before being moved to an undisclosed location where they spent the night.

The victims were kidnapped when armed terrorists invaded the community on February 3 this year, killing scores of residents and whisking away the victims into the forest, triggering widespread outrage and intensified security operations. Following sustained military operations and coordinated efforts by security agencies, the victims regained their freedom and were transported from Niger State to Ilorin late Thursday night.

The rescued victims were expected to be officially handed over to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who has consistently engaged security authorities to ensure their safe return.

Their arrival marks a major breakthrough in the months-long efforts to secure the release of the abductees, while authorities continue to verify the number of those rescued and provide necessary care and support.

Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara state while receiving the victims of Woro attack in Ilorin yesterday described the February bloody event as not only sad, but regrettable. The governor received the victims who are mostly kids and women, from the 22 Armoured Brigade Commander Brigadier General Nicholas Rume.

Mallam AbdulRazaq also hailed President Bola Tinubu for his swift response and assistance to the state. He added that the president had approved the establishment of five Army Battalions in Omu-Aran, Patigi, Ilemona, Kosubosu and Kaiama. (Saturday Vanguard)