25 Children Died, 12 Youths Joined Terrorists as Freed Abductees Recount Six-Month Forest Ordeal

Disturbing details have emerged from the six-month captivity of hundreds of abductees rescued from terrorist hideouts in parts of Kwara, Niger and Kebbi states, with reports indicating that 25 children lost their lives while being held in the forests and 12 young captives allegedly chose to remain with their abductors.

The revelations followed the return of 315 victims who regained their freedom on Thursday night after months in captivity, ending a prolonged period of anguish for their families and communities.

Speaking on the condition of the survivors, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena Constituency in Kaiama Local Government Area, Hon. Saidu Baba-Ahmed, disclosed that many of the victims endured severe hardship while in the custody of the terrorists.

According to him, several children did not survive the harsh conditions in the forest camps.

He explained that the deceased children were among the 336 persons abducted from communities across Kwara, Niger and Kebbi states, adding that those who died were buried in remote forest locations by their captors.

The lawmaker also disclosed that a number of youths chose a different path during captivity. He said the terrorists reportedly offered some of the young captives an opportunity to join their ranks, a proposal that 12 of them allegedly accepted.

As a result, the youths were not among those released and remain with the armed group.

The latest figures show that the freed victims comprise 308 people rescued from terrorist camps in the forests straddling Kwara and Niger states, as well as seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, who were kidnapped in a separate incident last week.

Baba-Ahmed said records available to local authorities indicated that 176 residents were abducted from Kwara State during the attack that led to the mass kidnapping. Of that number, 163 have now returned, while several others are still unaccounted for.

He further clarified concerns surrounding female victims, stating that medical examinations conducted after their release showed no evidence of sexual assault resulting in pregnancy during captivity.

However, he noted that two women who were already pregnant when they were abducted successfully gave birth while in captivity and returned home with their babies.

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The freed victims arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, late Thursday and were immediately placed under medical observation. Authorities disclosed that dozens of them required treatment for various health conditions linked to their prolonged stay in the forests.

State officials said the victims would undergo further medical and psychological assessment before being reunited with their families.

The abductees were among residents seized during a deadly terrorist raid on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area on February 3. During the attack, gunmen reportedly killed several villagers before forcing hundreds of others into the forest.

The incident triggered widespread condemnation and prompted intensified military operations across parts of Kwara and neighbouring Niger State.

Following months of coordinated efforts by security agencies, the victims were eventually freed and transported to Ilorin, where they were first received by military authorities at the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division Headquarters, Sobi Barracks.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the attack and subsequent abduction of residents as one of the state's most painful security tragedies in recent times.

Receiving the rescued victims from Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, the governor expressed gratitude to security agencies and the Federal Government for their roles in securing the release of the captives.

He particularly commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting ongoing efforts to strengthen security architecture in the region.

AbdulRazaq revealed that the Federal Government had approved the establishment of five new Army battalions in Omu-Aran, Patigi, Ilemona, Kosubosu and Kaiama to reinforce security presence in vulnerable communities and improve response to emerging threats.

For many of the survivors, however, the return home marks the beginning of a new challenge—recovering from months of trauma, loss and uncertainty after an ordeal that claimed lives and left several families still searching for loved ones.