How Kaiama kidnap victims returned with newborns after six months in captivity — Kwara stakeholders

Stakeholders in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have revealed that some of the female victims abducted during the February 3 attack on Woro community returned from captivity pregnant, while others gave birth during their six-month ordeal.

The National Chairman of the Kaiama Development Association (KDA), Alhaji Yakubu Salihu, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Thursday following the reported rescue of the abducted victims.

According to him, although security agencies announced the rescue of 163 victims, 13 persons remain unaccounted for.

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“We have records that 163 victims returned against 176 persons that were abducted. So, 13 persons are currently unaccounted for,” Salihu said.

He added that some of the rescued women were impregnated by their captors, while others had delivered babies during their time in captivity.

Salihu disclosed that the Kwara State Government was making arrangements to receive the rescued victims, who are expected to be transported from Niger State to Ilorin on Friday for rehabilitation and resettlement.

“Hopefully, by Friday they’ll be moved back to Ilorin,” he said.

The community leader appealed to the state government to urgently rehabilitate the roads leading to Kaiama, describing them as being in a deplorable condition.

“Four roads leading to Kaiama are in deplorable conditions. So, we are appealing to the state government to fix them,” he said.

He also called on the Federal Government to expedite the establishment of a Nigerian Army battalion in the area, stressing that a permanent military presence was necessary to prevent future attacks and restore public confidence.

“The Federal Government is making efforts to establish a battalion of the Nigerian Army here. As a community, we are ready to provide a suitable location and every support needed to ensure the military settles in quickly and begins operations,” Salihu said.

He commended the Federal Government and security agencies for securing the release of the victims but stressed that sustained security measures were required to achieve lasting peace.

According to him, inadequate deployment of security personnel has remained a major challenge, leaving communities vulnerable to attacks by criminal elements.

The rescued victims are currently in Niger State, where they are undergoing medical examinations, security screening and other administrative procedures ahead of their return to Kwara.