KACHIA, Nigeria — A Kaduna mother abducted while pregnant has escaped from a kidnappers’ camp after six months, reaching safety with two of her daughters after another child died during their journey through the bush.
The woman fled with three daughters, aged four, six and 12, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, after spending about 180 days in captivity.
Her four-year-old daughter, Christy, was already seriously ill and died before the family reached a community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State the following afternoon.
The account was provided by Reuben Buhari, a security analyst and former Kaduna State governorship aide. The woman’s identity has been withheld.
The Kaduna State Police Command had not publicly confirmed the escape or provided an account of the original abduction.
Buhari said residents who found the family arranged medical care ahead of a planned transfer to Kaduna.
A Two-Day Walk Out of Captivity
Buhari said the woman and her daughters left their captors’ hideout in a severely weakened condition.
Christy could no longer walk because of an illness that had caused swelling around her eyes and legs. Her mother initially carried her as the family moved through the forest without shoes.
“Her mother carried her on her back, but when she became tired, the 12-year-old sister took over the burden,” Buhari said.
The family continued until darkness made further travel impossible. They spent Saturday night in the bush and resumed their attempt to find a settlement the next morning.
Christy died while they were still on the journey.
“They resumed their journey the following morning, but tragedy struck when Christy died while they were still walking,” Buhari said.
The family did not abandon the child. Buhari said the mother and her eldest daughter took turns carrying her as they continued towards safety, despite exhaustion from months in captivity.
“At one point, the mother reportedly became extremely weak, leaving the 12-year-old to carry the body of her four-year-old sister until they eventually reached a village in Kachia LGA on Sunday afternoon,” he said.
Residents found the family and moved them to another community, where the woman and her two surviving daughters were receiving treatment.
Newborn Died in Captivity
The woman had been pregnant when she was abducted from Ariko village with her children.
She gave birth while being held, but the baby survived for only about three weeks, according to Buhari’s account.
The infant’s death meant the mother lost two children during the six-month ordeal: one inside the camp and another during the escape.
Earlier accounts attributed to former captives said the woman received no formal medical assistance during childbirth.
Other women held in the camp reportedly helped with the delivery using the limited materials available to them.
Those details have not been independently confirmed by the police or health authorities.
The surviving family members were said to be weak and in need of further medical assessment after prolonged exposure to hunger, illness and harsh conditions.
Dozens of Victims Remain in Captivity
Buhari said the family belonged to a larger group abducted from Ariko and neighbouring communities.
Thirty-three other victims were still being held, he said, including 11 people taken from Awon village.
He expressed concern that many had become severely weakened during their months in captivity.
The account did not disclose how the woman and her children found an opportunity to escape, whether their captors pursued them or how far they travelled before reaching the village.
Authorities had also not announced a rescue operation for those who remained behind.
The absence of an official statement has left several parts of the case dependent on information supplied by Buhari and residents familiar with the abducted families.
Families Continue to Await Their Relatives
Buhari appealed for continued attention to the people still being held and for support for their relatives.
The escape brought an end to one family’s confinement but added another loss to an ordeal that began with the woman’s abduction while pregnant.
The mother and her two surviving daughters now face medical recovery as families in Ariko, Awon and surrounding communities continue waiting for information about those who remain with the kidnappers.
