Oluchi Chibuzor in Lagos and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Some of the rescued victims of the February 3 terrorist attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have revealed that at least 13 captives died during the nearly six months in captivity, while 12 children were still being held by the terrorists. Some of the victims disclosed this during a reception for them in Ilorin, yesterday.The victims numbering 163 were rescued on Wednesday August 5, 2026, by security forces after spending six months in captivity. They were abducted when armed bandits invaded the community earlier this year, killing scores of residents and whisking away many others into the forest, triggering widespread outrage and intensified security operations.Following sustained military operations and coordinated efforts by security agencies, the victims regained their freedom and were transported from Niger State to Ilorin. They met with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, some top military personnel and government officials.Narrating her harrowing experience, one of the survivors, Nafisat Abdulfatai, said several children remained in the forest because the abductors said they would become slaves if they attempted to leave. “Thirteen people died among us during our time in captivity. Twelve children are still with the terrorists. They were not released with us because the abductors had threatened that those who tried to leave would become slaves.“Out of fear, the children agreed to remain behind. Two of them were specifically forced to stay because the terrorists believed they were old enough. In truth, those children were compelled to remain. We pray that God will also bring them back safely. “We were not allowed to eat what we wanted. Most days, we ate only once. Our meals were prepared with only salt—there was no oil or other ingredients. We survived mainly on ‘luru’ soup. Many of us ended up eating things we never imagined we would eat in our lifetime.” “There were days when we had nothing to eat from morning until night. Sometimes, our only meal came around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. The suffering was unimaginable.“About a month after we arrived in the forest, they slaughtered two cows every day for five consecutive days, making a total of 10 cows.“They also slaughtered two more cows before our release. They gave each of us two yards of cloth on two different occasions, but that did not lessen our suffering, “We slept inside the thick bush. The first rainfall came while we were completely exposed, and it ended while we were still there. It was only after some children died that they erected a makeshift shelter with trampoline material,” she said.According to her, “There were pregnant women and nursing mothers among us. Some women gave birth in captivity but lost their babies. About six or seven women experienced that tragedy, while others returned with their babies.“Some of the rescued victims are currently receiving treatment because they are seriously ill. We are all affected, but some are in much worse condition.”
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