A woman who gave birth under horrific conditions in a terrorists’ camp after she was abducted during an attack on Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state has regained her freedom after spending 180 days in captivity, but her four-year-old daughter died during the family’s desperate journey to safety.

The latest account was disclosed by former media aide to the late Kaduna state governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Mr. Reuben Buhari, in a post on his verified social media handle on Monday. Blueprint reports

According to Buhari, the woman escaped from the kidnappers’ camp on Saturday alongside her three surviving daughters after enduring six months in captivity.

She was heavily pregnant when she was abducted together with her four children during the attack on Ariko community.

The children were identified as Christy, aged four, and her sisters aged six and 12 years.

Baby born in captivity died after three weeks

The woman’s ordeal first drew public attention after a former captive narrated how she went into labour inside the terrorists’ camp without access to medical care.

According to the earlier testimony, fellow female captives relied on traditional childbirth experience to help deliver the baby after the abductors allegedly refused to provide medical assistance.

The women reportedly improvised with pieces of clothing to wrap the newborn, while one of them allegedly used her teeth to cut the baby’s umbilical cord after the captors refused to provide any sharp object.

The newborn later died after surviving for about three weeks in captivity.

Escape ends in fresh tragedy

Buhari said although the woman eventually secured her freedom after 180 days, another tragedy struck during the family’s escape.

He disclosed that Christy, the woman’s four-year-old daughter, had become critically ill while still in captivity.

According to him, the child suffered severe swelling of the eyes and legs and had become too weak to walk.

The mother initially carried Christy on her back as the family made their way through the forest barefoot.

Whenever she became exhausted, the responsibility shifted to the 12-year-old daughter, who also carried her younger sister despite her own weakened condition.

The family reportedly walked until nightfall before sleeping in the bush and resuming the journey the following morning.

Mother, sister carried dead child to safety

Buhari said tragedy struck while they were still making their way to safety as Christy died during the journey.

Despite the devastating loss, the family reportedly continued carrying the child’s body through the forest.

According to Buhari, the grieving mother and her eldest daughter took turns carrying the lifeless four-year-old as they struggled through the bush.

When the mother became too weak to continue, the 12-year-old reportedly carried the body of her deceased sister until they eventually reached a village in Kachia Local Government Area on Sunday afternoon.

Residents of the community came to their aid before moving them to another location where they are currently receiving medical attention ahead of their transfer to Kaduna.

Months of captivity leave victims emaciated

The latest testimony further underscores the harsh conditions endured by victims held in terrorists’ camps across Southern Kaduna.

Earlier escapees had described widespread hunger, disease, exposure to harsh weather and severe malnutrition inside the camps.

One 65-year-old woman who escaped after spending 54 days in captivity recounted trekking barefoot through forests for three days after fleeing when a guard fell asleep.

She alleged that captives survived on mangoes, boiled leaves and untreated stream water, while many children suffered from skin infections and other illnesses.

Another recently freed victim disclosed that at least seven abductees, including two men, two women and three children, died in captivity and were allegedly dumped on a nearby hillside instead of being buried.

Dozens still held by abductors

Buhari said many victims abducted from the community remain in captivity alongside the 11 residents kidnapped from neighbouring Awon village.

He added that most of those still being held are severely emaciated and in urgent need of rescue and medical attention.

The Ariko worshippers were abducted during an Easter church service in one of the deadliest attacks recorded in Kachia Local Government Area this year.

Residents and community leaders have repeatedly appealed to security agencies to intensify rescue operations and dismantle terrorists’ camps operating in forests across Southern Kaduna.

The Kaduna state Police command is yet to comment on the matter as at the time of filing this report.