Kwara: 13 Killed, 12 Children Still Held by Terrorists, Survivor Recounts Ordeal

A harrowing account has emerged from the victims of a terrorist attack in Kwara State, Nigeria, detailing nearly six months of captivity and immense suffering. Of the 163 individuals rescued by security forces on August 5, 2026, survivors revealed that 13 captives died during their ordeal, and a dozen children are still being held by the militants.

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Thirteen people died among us during our time in captivity. Twelve children are still with the terrorists.

Nafisat Abdulfatai, one of the survivors, shared the devastating details of their time in captivity. She explained that the remaining children were compelled to stay with the abductors due to threats of enslavement. "Thirteen people died among us during our time in captivity. Twelve children are still with the terrorists," she stated, her voice heavy with the trauma of their experience.

The victims endured extreme hardship, including severe food shortages and meager rations. "We were not allowed to eat what we wanted. Most days, we ate only once. Our meals were prepared with only salt, there was no oil or other ingredients," Nafisat recounted. She described surviving on "luru" soup and eating things they never imagined, often going without food from morning until night.

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They were not released with us because the abductors had threatened that those who tried to leave would become slaves.

Conditions in the makeshift shelters were dire, with survivors sleeping in the open bush and enduring harsh weather. "The first rainfall came while we were completely exposed, and it ended while we were still there," Nafisat said. The situation worsened for pregnant women and nursing mothers, with several women losing their babies after giving birth in captivity.

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We were not allowed to eat what we wanted. Most days, we ate only once. Our meals were prepared with only salt, there was no oil or other ingredients.

Despite the release of 163 victims, the fate of the 12 children still held captive weighs heavily on the community. The abductors' threats and the victims' fear underscore the ongoing terror faced by those affected by the attack. The survivors are now receiving medical treatment for the physical and psychological scars of their ordeal.

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The first rainfall came while we were completely exposed, and it ended while we were still there.