A kidnap survivor, Aisha, has shared a harrowing account of how armed bandits in Zamfara State allegedly forced her to bury her three children after they died during her six-month captivity in the region.
Aisha said she was abducted alongside her children while travelling through the state, describing how the attack began when armed men opened fire on their vehicle, forcing it to stop before whisking them away into the forest.
Speaking in an interview with DW Hausa, she said she and her three children were held hostage for over six months under extremely harsh conditions.
“They suddenly opened fire, forcing our vehicle to stop. My three children and I, along with other passengers were abducted and taken into the forest,” she recounted.
According to her, the captivity was marked by starvation, illness, and repeated abuse, with her children dying one after another during the ordeal. She said she was compelled to bury them herself under orders from the abductors.
“I was forced to bury every victim who died in captivity, including my own children,” she said, adding that two of her children died first before she was instructed to bury them.
Aisha also recounted the death of her infant son, alleging that he succumbed to injuries sustained in captivity. She said she was only allowed to bury him after pleading with the armed group not to dispose of his body.
“My baby was sleeping beside my daughter when he died. Bandits wanted to feed his remains to their dogs, but I pleaded with them to allow me to bury him,” she said.
She described continuous suffering in captivity, including hunger, thirst, and physical abuse. “My children constantly cried from hunger, thirst, pain and the beating they received from the bandits,” she added.
Aisha said she eventually escaped from the forest at night after spotting an opportunity, spending several days navigating through the bush before reaching a nearby settlement.
“I am in urgent need of medical care and food support,” she said, appealing for humanitarian assistance following her return.
Armed violence, kidnappings, and banditry continue to affect communities across Zamfara and neighbouring states, including Katsina and Sokoto, where residents frequently face attacks, displacement, and extortion by armed groups.
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