A woman and her three daughters have been released by suspected gunmen after spending 180 days in captivity. They were taken during an Easter raid on Ariyo Community in the Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, an incident that also resulted in multiple fatalities.
The captors had initially requested a ransom of N1 billion. Reuben Buhari, a former aide to the late Governor Ibrahim Yakowa, announced their release via Facebook. He detailed the traumatic conditions the mother and her children endured, noting that the woman had given birth while in custody, though that infant did not survive.
During their journey to freedom, the family suffered further tragedy. One of the daughters, four-year-old Christy, fell severely ill and passed away while they were traveling through the bush. Despite their exhaustion and physical condition, the mother and her eldest daughter carried the body of the deceased child until they reached a village in Kachia LGA on Sunday. Local residents provided aid, and the survivors are currently undergoing medical treatment before their return to Kaduna. Several other hostages from the original attack remain in the custody of the kidnappers.
