13-Year-Old Dies Day After Freedom From Kaduna Bandits

A 13-year-old girl who survived nearly seven months in the hands of bandits in Kaduna State died barely a day after regaining her freedom, underscoring the brutal toll of prolonged captivity on the most vulnerable victims of insecurity in the region.

Hasana Bulus (also reported as Hassana) was among residents abducted from Awon village in Kachia Local Government Area on April 20, 2026. Armed bandits stormed the community and took her, along with others, into the bush. She remained in captivity until her release around November 1–2, 2026. Rushed to a hospital in Kachia for urgent care, she died on November 3 while receiving treatment.

Former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the late Kaduna State Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Reuben Buhari, confirmed the tragedy in a social media post.

“For seven long months, this little girl was held captive in the bush, enduring pain and horrors no 13-year-old should ever have to see, let alone live through,” he wrote. “She was finally freed on 2nd November and taken to a hospital in Kachia.

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On 3rd November, just a day after tasting freedom, she died. May her gentle soul rest in peace.”

Community sources and reports indicated that Hasana had fallen critically ill during her ordeal.

She reportedly succumbed to extreme physical exhaustion, severe malnutrition, and related complications. Bandits had initially demanded an enormous ransom of N300 million plus 23 motorcycles for the release of the group of about 11 abductees, rejecting smaller offers from the impoverished community and threatening to starve the captives. The eventual release of the five surviving victims followed the payment of a reduced ransom that included three motorcycles (each costing more than N2 million), recharge cards, and drinks.

Of the original group, five people died in captivity, including all the male hostages, a woman named Joy Samuel (33) and her newborn child, and young children. One person escaped earlier. The other survivors released with Hasana included Hanatu Yusuf (52), Celina Maichibi (46), Faith Kefas (14), and Sylvia Samuel (4).

Hasana’s death came amid continued violence in Kachia. On November 4, bandits attacked the nearby Akwando community around 12:30 a.m., killing two people and abducting about 18 others—mostly women and children, including members of Buhari’s extended family (cousins, their children, and grandchildren). The youngest victims included infants.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a UK-based human rights group, expressed condolences and renewed calls for authorities to protect vulnerable communities in southern Kaduna and secure the release of remaining abductees. The organisation noted that Hasana was among those taken by heavily armed men identified as Fulani militiamen and that her case reflects a wider pattern of prolonged captivity marked by starvation and harsh conditions.

Residents and community leaders in Kachia have long complained of repeated attacks, abductions, and killings, with some released captives dying shortly after freedom due to the physical and psychological damage inflicted during months in the forest. At the time of reporting, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued a detailed public confirmation of the latest developments.

Hasana Bulus’s brief return to freedom and subsequent death has drawn fresh attention to the human cost of banditry in the area, particularly for children who endure months of trauma only to lose their lives after rescue.