Three more people abducted from a village in southern Kaduna, Nigeria, have reportedly died while being held captive, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).
The three were among 11 people taken from Awon village in Kachia Local Government Area on 20 April. They were reportedly held in the same forest camp as 37 worshippers who were kidnapped during coordinated attacks on Easter Sunday services at three churches in the nearby Ariko community on 5 April.
The abductors initially demanded 300 million naira, estimated at £168,000, along with 23 motorcycles for the release of the captives. The demands were reportedly rejected by the rural community, which had offered several million naira. The kidnappers then threatened to withhold food from those being held until their demands were met.
One of the 11 people abducted from Awon later escaped. However, the condition of those who remain in captivity has continued to deteriorate.
Joy Samuel died on 28 August after reportedly giving birth while in captivity. Her baby had died previously. Her three-year-old daughter, Silvia Samuel, who was abducted with her mother, is now said to be critically ill.
Yusuf Bawa, 34, and his five-year-old son have also reportedly died after suffering from illness and severe hunger. Two 14-year-old girls, Faith Kefas and Rachel Bulus, are said to be critically ill after reportedly surviving for several months on water from a river.
The kidnappers have reportedly lowered their ransom demand and are now seeking 9 million naira, around £5,030, together with four motorcycles for the release of the seven remaining captives. The abductors have reportedly acknowledged that the captives are in extremely poor health because of illness and starvation.
The situation follows another escape from captivity earlier in August involving a woman from Ariko village who had also given birth while being held by kidnappers. Her baby died more than two weeks after birth, but the woman managed to escape with her three surviving children, aged four, six and 12.
The youngest child was already critically ill. According to CSW, the child died while being carried through the forest by the mother. The 12-year-old sibling later carried the child's body after their mother became too weak to continue, having been affected by starvation.
The cases highlight wider concerns over prolonged kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria, where large numbers of people remain in captivity while their families and communities try to meet ransom demands.
Other children also remain among those being held. Forty-two pupils abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on 15 May by suspected Boko Haram militants were still in captivity more than 100 days later, according to CSW. Another 36 students and a teacher abducted from Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, also in Askira/Uba, on 29 June reportedly remain in captivity.
Mervyn Thomas, founder and president of CSW, expressed condolences to the families of those who have died and called on Nigerian authorities to increase efforts to secure the release of those still being held.
He also urged state and federal authorities to give greater priority to the safety of civilians and develop a comprehensive security strategy to protect vulnerable communities from armed groups.
Based on reporting by Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
