Eight residents abducted by bandits from Awon village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State have died in captivity, six months after their abduction, according to reports.
The victims were among 11 residents kidnapped on April 20, 2026. One person reportedly escaped, leaving two captives still alive after spending 185 days in captivity as of Thursday, October 22.
The latest development was reported by journalist Reuben Buhari in a Facebook post on Thursday, with details also shared by Linda Ikeji’s blog.
According to the reports, the victims died while being held by their abductors, with the bandit leader identified as Yellow One Million allegedly confirming their deaths to a woman who recently escaped from captivity.
The eight victims reportedly included Joy Samuel, a mother who died on August 28 after giving birth while being held at the kidnappers’ camp. Her newborn baby also died.
Samuel’s 14-year-old daughter, who was abducted alongside her, reportedly died after becoming critically ill. Her three-year-old daughter, Silvia, was also reported to have died in captivity.
READ ALSO:Â Kaduna killings continue, eight dead, four church members abducted, N100m demanded
The reports indicated that the deaths extended beyond Samuel and her children, with other abducted residents also dying while in the custody of the kidnappers. Photographs shared alongside the report were said to show five of the eight victims who had died.
The abduction occurred when bandits reportedly stormed Awon village in Kachia Local Government Area of southern Kaduna on April 20, 2026, and took 11 residents away.
Following the kidnapping, the abductors allegedly demanded a ransom of ₦300 million and 23 motorcycles in exchange for the victims’ release.
The kidnappers reportedly rejected an offer of several million naira from the rural community and threatened to deny the captives access to food until their demands were met.
The deaths have renewed concerns over the prolonged captivity of abducted residents and the conditions they face while being held by armed groups.
With eight of the 11 victims now reported dead and one having escaped, the fate of the two remaining captives remains uncertain.
As of Thursday, October 22, the reports did not provide confirmation that the remaining victims had been released or rescued. Further official information from security agencies or the Kaduna State Government was not included in the reports.