Two women abducted by bandits in Sokoto State have reportedly given birth while in captivity nearly seven weeks after they were kidnapped alongside six other members of their family.
The victims were abducted during a raid on Takatsaba village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area when armed bandits stormed the community and seized eight members of a single household—five women and three men.
A relative of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers also killed an elderly man during the assault, leaving several children orphaned.
According to the source, two of the kidnapped women delivered babies while still in the custody of their captors—one giving birth to a baby boy and the other to a baby girl.
The family has reportedly paid more than ₦8 million in ransom but is yet to meet the ₦10 million demanded by the bandits.
“We have been struggling to raise the ransom. Although over eight million naira has been paid, we have not been able to meet the ten million naira demanded,” the relative said.
He further revealed that three of the abductees, including a nursing mother, managed to escape from the kidnappers and have since reached Zurmi town in neighbouring Zamfara State. The escapees are currently receiving medical attention at a health facility in Sabon Birni.
However, three young men and two women are still believed to be in captivity.
The relative appealed to the authorities to intensify security efforts in the area and urgently deploy security personnel to protect vulnerable communities.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad, said the incident had not yet been officially reported to the command.
The development highlights the worsening security situation in parts of northwestern Nigeria, where bandit attacks and kidnappings for ransom continue to pose serious threats to rural communities.
