BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

A 13-year-old girl has died just hours after regaining her freedom from seven months of captivity, following her abduction by armed men in Awon community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The teenager was among 11 residents kidnapped during an attack on the community on April 21, 2026, in which two people were reportedly killed.

The President of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association (KUDA), Dr Joseph David Ariko, disclosed the development while speaking with LEADERSHIP, describing the incident as another painful consequence of the prolonged insecurity affecting communities in the area.

According to Ariko, one of the abducted victims, a woman, managed to escape from captivity about two months after the attack, leaving 10 others in the hands of their captors.

He explained that seven of the remaining victims were released on November 3, 2026, after their families reportedly paid more than ₦6 million in cash and surrendered three motorcycles to secure their freedom.

The combined value of the ransom and motorcycles was estimated at approximately ₦13 million.

Advertisement

However, what should have been a moment of relief for the affected families quickly turned into another tragedy when the 13-year-old girl died on the same day she was released.

Ariko said the girl was taken to a hospital for medical attention shortly after regaining her freedom but died while receiving treatment.

He added that the victims returned in the early hours of November 3, after spending months in captivity.

The circumstances surrounding the teenager's death, including the medical condition that led to her demise, remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Her death has added another painful dimension to the ordeal of the Awon community, where families have endured months of uncertainty, financial pressure and emotional distress over the fate of their abducted relatives.