A Nigerian woman and her children have regained their freedom after spending 180 days in the captivity of kidnappers in Kaduna State.
The heartbreaking development was shared by Facebook user Reuben Buhari, who recounted the family’s ordeal in a post that has since gone viral on social media.
According to the post, the woman was abducted while she was pregnant during an attack on Ariko village in Kaduna State.
Follow the Elizabethblog channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDQN5lI1rcbSgriLG2M
Reuben Buhari revealed that the woman went into labour while being held by the kidnappers and gave birth in the forest.
According to him, there was no medical assistance available, and the newborn’s umbilical cord was reportedly cut using someone’s teeth.
Sadly, the baby survived for only three weeks before dying in captivity.
The woman was eventually released alongside her three daughters after spending six months in captivity.
However, their journey to safety was filled with tragedy.
According to Reuben Buhari, the woman’s four-year-old daughter, Christy, became seriously ill while they were still in the kidnappers’ camp. The child reportedly developed swollen legs and eyes and was unable to walk.
Despite their own exhaustion, the woman and her 12-year-old daughter took turns carrying Christy as they trekked barefoot through the bush in search of safety.
The Facebook post further revealed that the family walked until nightfall and slept in the bush before continuing their journey the following morning.
Tragically, Christy died while they were still walking.
Despite the devastating loss, the grieving mother and her children reportedly continued carrying the child’s body until they reached a village in Kachia Local Government Area, where residents came to their aid.
The survivors were later moved to another community, where they are currently receiving medical attention before being transported to Kaduna for further care.
Sharing the update, Reuben Buhari wrote:
“Do you remember the woman from Ariko village who gave birth in the kidnappers’ den, and someone had to use her teeth to cut the umbilical cord? You remembered the child died after 3 weeks? Well…she is free now. She came out with her 3 remaining daughters after 180 days of captivity.
She was pregnant when she was kidnapped with Christy, her 4-year-old, and two other girls aged 6 and 12.
She got out on Saturday with her 3 children, but Christy, the 4-year-old, was very ill while still at the camp. Her eyes and legs were swollen, and she couldn’t walk at all, so they had to carry her.
Her mother carried her on her back. When she grew tired, she gave Christy to the 12-year-old to carry as well; though both were very weak, they continued to carry Christy that way. And all were walking barefoot.
They walked until it grew dark, and then they slept in the bush. In the morning, they continued their walk. But while they were walking, Christy, the sick 4-year-old, died. They continued with the dead child on their backs, still swapping when one got tired.
At one point, the mother became very weak, and it was the 12-year-old who continued to carry her 4-year-old dead sister on her back until they reached a village in Kachia LGA on Sunday afternoon, where some people came to their rescue. From there, they were moved to another village, where they are now receiving medical care to stabilise them before they are brought to Kaduna.
The remaining Ariko victims, including the 11 kidnapped from Awon village, are still in the kidnappers’ hands, and most of the remaining victims are emaciated like these. Pray for them please”