Eight people abducted by bandits in Kaduna State have reportedly died after spending about six months in captivity, leaving only two survivors from the group of 11 kidnapped residents.
The victims were taken from Awon village in Kachia Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna on April 20, 2026.
The kidnappers initially demanded N300 million and 23 motorcycles for their release. They rejected the community’s offer of several million naira and threatened to deny the victims food until their demands were met. One captive later escaped.
Among those who died was Joy Samuel, who reportedly gave birth in captivity on August 28. Both she and the baby died. Her 14-year-old daughter and three-year-old daughter, Silvia, also reportedly died.
Journalist Reuben Buhari confirmed Silvia’s death in a Facebook post on Thursday, October 22. Yusuf Bawa, 34, and his five-year-old son also died from sickness and severe hunger.
According to Buhari, the kidnappers have reduced their demand to N9 million and four motorcycles for the remaining captives. The victims are reportedly in extremely poor condition due to illness and starvation.
Buhari said the bandit leader known as Yellow One Million, who controls kidnapping activities and camps in Kachia and parts of Kajuru, confirmed the deaths to a female captive who recently escaped.
“Eight of the victims have now passed, leaving only two people alive who have spent 185 days in captivity as of today — six months.”
He also shared pictures of five of the eight victims who reportedly died in captivity.
