About 25 women reportedly abducted in February 2024 by the notorious Sadiku-led terrorist group in Niger State have regained freedom, with some returning either pregnant or nursing babies fathered by their captors during the prolonged captivity.
The women, who were reportedly taken while returning from Pandogari market in Rafi and Shiroro Local Government Areas, were rescued last week by security operatives who intercepted commercial buses around Kagara.
According to Report, the terrorists were reportedly relocating them from Palu-Waya in Shiroro, possibly to Kebbi State or the Kainji Forest in Borgu Local Government Area.
Four of the women were among the 25 abducted on the Pandogari–Allawa Road. Residents of Allawa, who confirmed the rescue, said this completes the return of all women taken during the February 14, 2024, incident.
“To us, this is a welcome development, as it has led to the recovery of the remaining four out of the 25 women kidnapped on February 14, 2024,” a resident told Daily Trust.
“However, while we celebrate, it is painful to note that some of these rescued women are either pregnant or carrying babies, a result of the forced marriages imposed by their captors,” he added.
Relatives said some women showed signs of psychological trauma and radicalisation.
“Some of the women have insisted they would prefer to stay with the terrorists for the rest of their lives,” a family member said.
Another resident said, “It is confirmed. We sent people to verify, and it was confirmed that some of the rescued women were from Allawa. But these women need thorough deradicalisation.
“One of them even said that, given the choice, she wouldn’t return home because she had fallen in love with the terrorists. She said she had memorised their phone numbers, even if the police had seized their phones. That woman is from Allawa, and her husband is still waiting for her.”
“Can you believe that even in police custody, some of these women are insisting they want to continue their journey to rejoin the terrorists? One woman with a newborn even said she could still contact them directly. It’s truly troubling,” he added.
Another source who visited the women confirmed that most of them were already married before the abduction.
“Four women from Allawa were among them. Their relatives have been visiting them. Some of the women were pregnant, while others had babies,” he said.
The Sadiku-led gang has been terrorising communities in Shiroro from their base in the Allawa forest for over five years. During the February 2024 attack that led to the mass abduction, six people were killed, and more than 20 women were taken.
In August 2024, the terrorists released a video showing one of the women chained to a tree. Pleading for help, she said, “They said they will not release me until the items they demanded are delivered. They told me to speak so you can hear.”
Confirming the report, the Niger State Police Command said it had rescued 35 women and children, including the 24 abductees who were being moved to Kebbi State by the terrorists.
In a statement, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the rescue followed reports that suspected bandits were relocating from the Birnin-Gwari forest due to security operations in the area.
“Between July 3rd and 5th, 2025, about 24 kidnapped victims — including women and children — who had been held captive for over a year in various parts of the state, such as Pandogari, Madaka, Allawa, Sarkin-Pawa, Taraba, and other locations, were being moved to Yauri in Kebbi State,” Abiodun said.
He explained that police tactical teams stationed along the Madaka–Makujeri Road intercepted most of the victims inside a vehicle driven by one Yusuf Abdullahi from Birnin-Gwari. Abdullahi was reportedly transporting the victims to Yauri to hand them over to other gang members, while others had already been dropped off in Tegina to board different vehicles.
“The driver was arrested, and the victims were rescued. They were taken to a medical facility for attention before efforts began to reunite them with their families. An investigation is ongoing to locate other victims and apprehend the remaining suspects,” he added.
He further disclosed that on July 4, 2025, at about 4:30 pm, another group comprising five women and six children was intercepted in Agwara while attempting to cross the river into Yauri, Kebbi State.
“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Agwara took custody of the victims. Two magazines and 60 rounds of live ammunition were recovered. The victims were transferred to the State Police Headquarters in Minna for further investigation,” he said.
Although the police said the rescued victims were taken to a hospital and later reunited with their families, some relatives told Daily Trust the women were still being held in police custody.
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