Eight residents of Awon community in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, including a mother, her two daughters and a newborn baby, have died in captivity six months after they were abducted by bandits.
The victims were among 11 residents kidnapped when armed bandits invaded Awon village in Kachia Local Government Area on April 20, 2026.
The abductors reportedly demanded a ransom of N300 million and 23 motorcycles for the release of the victims. They allegedly rejected an offer of several million naira from the rural community and threatened to deny the captives food until their demands were met.
One of the abductees later escaped, while the remaining victims reportedly endured harsh conditions in captivity.
Among those who died was Joy Samuel, who reportedly died on August 28 after giving birth at the bandits’ camp. Her newborn baby also died.
Samuel’s 14-year-old daughter, who was abducted alongside her mother, subsequently died after reportedly falling critically ill.
Journalist Reuben Buhari confirmed the latest development in a Facebook post on Thursday, October 22, disclosing that Samuel’s three-year-old daughter, Silvia, had also died.
Two other victims, identified as 34-year-old Yusuf Bawa and his five-year-old son, reportedly died from illness and acute hunger while in captivity.
The deaths have heightened concerns over the fate of the remaining abductees and the humanitarian situation facing residents of vulnerable communities in Southern Kaduna.
