Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Kaduna woman and her three surviving daughters have regained their freedom after enduring 180 days in the hands of suspected bandits, following a harrowing escape that saw the family trek barefoot through the bush for nearly two days, only to lose a fourth daughter to illness during the desperate journey to safety. The woman, whose name has been withheld for security reasons, was abducted alongside her daughters—aged 12, six, and four—from Ariko (also reported as Ariyo) village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State during a deadly Easter attack that claimed several lives and saw multiple residents taken into captivity.
The abduction, which occurred in April 2026, subjected the family to unimaginable hardship. The woman was pregnant at the time of her capture and reportedly gave birth while in the kidnappers’ den under horrific conditions, with the newborn dying just three weeks later after a bystander was forced to use her teeth to sever the umbilical cord. The bandits, who initially demanded a staggering N1 billion ransom, held the family captive for six months before they finally managed to escape on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
The family’s journey to freedom was a grueling test of endurance. According to Reuben Buhari, a former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the late Governor Ibrahim Yakowa, who confirmed the release on his verified Facebook page, the mother and her children were extremely weak and barefoot when they fled the camp. The youngest, four-year-old Christy, was already seriously ill, with swollen eyes and legs that left her unable to walk. Her mother carried her on her back, but when exhaustion set in, the 12-year-old daughter took over the burden. The family walked until nightfall, slept in the bush, and resumed their trek at dawn. Tragedy struck when Christy died during the journey. Yet, the grieving family continued, carrying the child’s body on their backs and taking turns until they reached a village in Kachia Local Government Area on Sunday afternoon, where residents came to their aid.
The survivors are currently receiving medical care and are being stabilized before their transfer to Kaduna. The release of the woman and her three daughters brings a measure of relief, but the ordeal is far from over for the community. Buhari disclosed that 33 other victims abducted from Ariko and 11 others from Awon village remain in captivity, with many severely emaciated. He appealed for prayers for those still in the kidnappers’ hands, as the region continues to grapple with the devastating impact of banditry and mass abductions that have displaced thousands and left communities in a state of perpetual fear.
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