A young boy identified as Hassan Haruna from Bena in Kebbi State has escaped from kidnappers after losing his father, mother and family driver during a deadly attack and subsequent period in captivity.
Hassan was reportedly travelling with his parents and their driver along Shagari Road when armed kidnappers attacked their vehicle, killing his father and the driver before abducting the boy and his mother.
Details of the incident emerged after a video showing Hassan recounting his ordeal circulated on social media.
According to the boy's account, the family was travelling together when the armed men intercepted them.
The attackers killed his father and their driver during the attack before taking Hassan and his mother into the forest.
Hassan said he remained in captivity with his mother following the abduction.
His mother subsequently died while they were being held in the kidnappers' hideout.
The circumstances surrounding her death were not detailed in the available report.
Following his mother's death, Hassan eventually succeeded in escaping from the kidnappers and made his way out of the forest.
He emerged through the Kucheri forest area in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The boy was subsequently taken to a hospital, where he received medical attention following his escape.
He was reported to be recovering at the hospital after surviving the attack, abduction and journey out of the forest.
Hassan's account means he entered captivity with his mother after witnessing the killing of his father and the family driver but emerged from the forest alone after his mother also died.
Efforts were being made to locate his relatives and reunite him with members of his extended family.
Residents of Bena and neighbouring communities in Kebbi State were asked to help circulate information concerning Hassan in an attempt to locate relatives who could identify and receive him.
The identities of Hassan's father, mother and driver had not been publicly provided in the initial reports.
The exact date on which the family was abducted was also not stated in the information accompanying Hassan's account.
No ransom demand was disclosed, and there was no information indicating whether money had been paid to the kidnappers before the boy escaped.
The identity of the armed group responsible for the attack was similarly not immediately established.
Available information identifies Hassan as being from Bena in Kebbi State and says he eventually emerged from captivity through the Kucheri forest area in Tsafe LGA of neighbouring Zamfara.
Tsafe is among the areas of Zamfara State that have experienced repeated attacks and kidnapping incidents involving armed groups operating from forest locations.
Hassan's escape comes amid continuing security operations against armed groups across Zamfara and neighbouring North-West states.
The forests and rural routes connecting Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina have remained important areas of security operations as authorities attempt to tackle kidnapping, attacks on travellers and raids on communities.
The boy's account, however, concerns a specific attack on his family.
According to the information presently available, Hassan was travelling with his father, mother and driver when the attackers struck.
His father and driver were killed at the scene, while Hassan and his mother were taken away.
His mother later died in captivity.
Hassan subsequently escaped.
After finding his way out through the Kucheri forest area, he was taken for medical treatment.
The incident became public principally through the video in which Hassan narrated what happened to him and his family.
The appeal subsequently circulated online as people sought assistance in locating the boy's surviving relatives.
A message accompanying the appeal asked members of the public, particularly people from Bena and surrounding communities, to help identify Hassan's family.
The appeal also sought support for the boy following his ordeal.
As of the initial reports, there was no public announcement that the kidnappers responsible for attacking Hassan's family had been arrested.
There was also no detailed statement from security authorities identifying the armed group responsible for the attack.
The information currently available therefore centres on Hassan's account of what happened during the family's journey and his eventual escape from captivity.
His survival provides authorities with a direct account of the attack and the family's movement into the forest following their abduction.
Hassan's recovery in the Kucheri forest axis also places the location where he emerged within Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Tsafe has repeatedly featured in security operations targeting armed groups and kidnapping networks operating within Zamfara.
The wider area has witnessed military operations under Operation FANSAN YAMMA as security forces attempt to dismantle camps, rescue abducted residents and restrict the movement of armed groups.
For Hassan, however, the immediate priority following his escape has been medical attention and locating surviving relatives.
The boy lost all three adults travelling with him during the incident.
His father and the family driver were killed when the kidnappers attacked their vehicle, while his mother survived the initial attack but later died after being taken into captivity with her son.
Hassan was the only person among the four travellers reported to have survived the incident.
The available report did not state how long he and his mother remained in captivity or how long Hassan travelled through the forest before reaching safety.
It also did not provide details about the medical condition in which he was found.
He was nevertheless taken to a hospital and was reported to be recovering following his escape.
Members of the public were urged to continue circulating information about Hassan so that his relatives could be traced.
The incident adds to kidnapping cases affecting travellers and communities across parts of Nigeria's North-West, where security forces continue operations against armed groups.
Hassan's account also provides another example of abducted victims attempting to escape from forest hideouts after being taken away from roads or communities.
In his case, the escape followed an extraordinary family tragedy.
He began the journey accompanied by his father, mother and their driver.
The armed attack left his father and driver dead and resulted in Hassan and his mother being taken into the forest.
His mother later died during captivity, leaving the young boy alone before he eventually found an opportunity to escape.
Hassan ultimately made his way through the forest and emerged around Kucheri in Tsafe LGA, where assistance was provided and he was taken for medical care.
Efforts are now focused on identifying and contacting his surviving relatives in Bena, Kebbi State, while the boy continues recovering from the ordeal.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments