According to a report by The Sun News, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, fresh details have emerged about the ordeal of residents of Ariko village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State who were abducted by bandits, with reports indicating that seven of the victims have lost their lives while being held in captivity.
The information was made public by security analyst and conflict monitor, Reuben Buhari, who shared the development in a Facebook post on Friday.
Buhari, who previously served as spokesman to the late former Kaduna State Governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, said the account was based on information provided by one of the captives who was recently released.
According to the former captive, the victims who died allegedly succumbed to the harsh and inhumane conditions at the kidnappers’ camp.
Buhari stated that those who reportedly died included two adult men, two women and three children.
He further alleged that after the victims died, the kidnappers did not give them proper burials.
Instead, their bodies were reportedly dragged to a nearby slope and abandoned there.
Buhari also claimed that one of the deceased was a baby delivered while the mother was still being held by the kidnappers.
The woman, who was among those abducted from Ariko village, reportedly gave birth in captivity, but the baby survived for only about three weeks before dying.
He explained that the circumstances surrounding the birth reflected the difficult situation in the camp.
According to him, when the woman went into labour, another female captive reportedly had to use her teeth to cut the baby’s umbilical cord because there was no sharp object available to carry out the procedure.
The security analyst also disclosed that 11 people abducted from the neighbouring Awon village are allegedly being held at the same location with the Ariko captives.
He added that another pregnant woman from Awon village, who was kidnapped on April 20, reportedly gave birth in the camp about two weeks ago.
Sadly, Buhari claimed that the newborn survived for only one day before passing away, adding another tragic chapter to the experiences of those being held by the kidnappers.
Describing the living conditions inside the camp, Buhari said the released captive painted a disturbing picture of life in captivity.
According to the account, those still being held have no shelter and are left exposed to harsh weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, cold nights and intense heat during the day.
He said, “They sleep on wet ground after rainfall, while most of the remaining children are sick.”
Buhari added that the prolonged captivity has continued to worsen the suffering of the victims.
He noted that as of Friday, July 24, 2026, those abducted from Ariko village had spent about 110 days in captivity, while the victims from Awon village had remained in the kidnappers’ camp for approximately 95 days.
He appealed to relevant authorities and well-meaning individuals to intensify efforts toward securing the safe release of those who remain in captivity.
Buhari also urged members of the public to keep the victims and their families in their prayers as they continue to endure the difficult situation.
As of the time the report was filed, the allegations and details shared by the security analyst had not been independently verified.