A three-year-old girl, Silvia Samuel, has spent 168 days in captivity after armed bandits abducted her pregnant mother and other residents of Awon community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with both her mother and newborn brother reportedly dying in captivity.
The child is among six captives reportedly still being held by the gunmen after nearly six months in the bush, where they have allegedly suffered severe hunger, illness and other forms of physical deterioration.
The disturbing account was disclosed by Reuben Buhari, a former Senior Adviser on Media to the late Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, in a Facebook post that circulated on Monday.
According to Buhari, Silvia was abducted on April 20 alongside her pregnant mother and other residents while they were walking in the community.
He said the mother gave birth while in captivity, but the newborn died. The woman also reportedly died in September, leaving her three-year-old daughter at the mercy of the abductors.
The deaths have left Silvia’s father grieving the loss of his wife and newborn son, while his surviving child remains in the hands of the kidnappers, according to Buhari’s account.
The former government aide said other children were also among those being held by the bandits, including 14-year-old Faith and 14-year-old Racheal.
Faith’s younger brother, identified as Devine, reportedly died in captivity after crying for days because of hunger.
Buhari said reports from the captives’ ordeal indicated that those still being held had developed sores from insect bites, ringworm on their scalps, bleeding gums and decaying teeth.
He added that the victims had become severely emaciated after months of hunger, illness and exposure to harsh weather conditions in the bush.
The account raises fresh concerns about the plight of children held by armed groups in Kaduna State, particularly those facing prolonged captivity without adequate food, medical attention or shelter.
Buhari appealed for prayers for the remaining captives, while the account has prompted renewed calls for urgent intervention to secure their release.
