Ariko Abduction: Kaduna Woman Gives Birth In Captivity, Escapee Reveals
A woman abducted during an Easter church service in Ariko village, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has reportedly given birth while being held in a bandits’ camp, according to an escapee who recently fled captivity.
The account was shared on Facebook by Reuben Buhari, a former media aide to the late Governor Patrick Yakowa, based on the testimony of a woman who escaped after trekking through the bush for about three days.
According to the survivor, the pregnant woman went into labour about a week ago under extremely difficult conditions, without access to medical care.
Other female captives reportedly assisted with the delivery using the limited resources available in the camp.
She explained that the women, already weakened by hunger and harsh living conditions, did their best to support the birth. With no medical instruments available, one of the women eventually used her teeth to cut the baby’s umbilical cord after waiting for about an hour.
The escapee further claimed that requests for water to clean the mother and newborn were denied. Efforts to reach a nearby stream for washing were also reportedly refused by the captors.
According to her, the new mother, weakened by illness and prolonged starvation, initially struggled to produce breast milk due to severe malnutrition. However, feeding later became possible when her milk supply gradually improved.
The survivor also recounted that when rainfall arrived later, captives used a wet cloth to clean the newborn because clean water remained unavailable.
At the time of her escape, she said the baby was five days old and still alive, although the umbilical wound had not fully healed.
Beyond the childbirth incident, the escapee described conditions in the camp as extremely harsh, marked by widespread hunger, poor sanitation, and inadequate healthcare.
She alleged that many women and children suffered from skin infections, while lice infestations were common among the captives.
