About 13 children reportedly died during the six-month captivity of residents abducted from communities in Kaiama LGA of Kwara state.

Saliu Amira, a nurse and one of the 163 victims rescued by security agencies, said 12 other children followed their abductors during the ordeal.

She said the victims endured harsh conditions and were given little food while in captivity.

“The kind of food that they are giving us over there… The day that we reached there, they just dropped guinea corn for us with salt and Maggi,” Amira said.

“They left us inside the river; the children that died are almost 13, and those people that followed them are 12 in number; that’s 25.”

Nicholas Rume, commander of the 22 armoured brigade, said the victims were rescued through the combined efforts of security agencies.

“Today I am happy to introduce to you the people whom, through the combined efforts of the security agencies, we have been able to rescue,” he said.

“Thank you to the other security agencies who have been very helpful in all the efforts we’ve been making; today is an example of the synergy that exists within security agencies in the country.”

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara, received the rescued victims in Ilorin, the state capital, on Friday.

The governor commended the security agencies for the successful operation and said the establishment of a new army brigade would strengthen security in the state.

Abdulrazaq said 46 of the rescued victims had been hospitalised and were receiving medical attention at a government facility.

“I have since directed that the appropriate medical attention be extended to everyone to ensure their well-being. Prior to this time, our government has extended various forms of support to the rural community,” he said.

The victims were among residents abducted on February 3 when armed assailants attacked Woro, Nuku and other communities in Kaiama LGA.

The attacks reportedly killed at least 75 people, displaced several residents and left many communities severely affected.

While the exact number of people abducted was not immediately known, reports put the figure at about 170, including women and children.

On August 5, the Kwara government announced the release of the victims after about six months in captivity.

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