A nurse from Kwara State, Amirah Salihu, has recounted the ordeal she allegedly endured during six months in captivity, saying she was forced to assist pregnant women in delivering their babies under extremely difficult conditions.
Salihu, who was recently rescued after spending months in the custody of her abductors, said she helped deliver 10 babies while in captivity.
According to her account, the deliveries were carried out without proper medical equipment, with her sometimes relying on her bare hands to assist the women during labour.
The nurse said the experience exposed her and the other captives to harsh living conditions and limited access to basic healthcare and other necessities.
She reportedly continued providing medical assistance despite the difficult circumstances, particularly to pregnant women who had little or no access to professional healthcare during their captivity.
Salihu’s account highlights the often-overlooked humanitarian consequences of kidnapping and prolonged captivity, particularly for women and children who may require urgent medical attention.
Pregnant women held by armed groups can face heightened risks when they are unable to access antenatal care, skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric services and essential medicines.
For Salihu, the experience also meant having to provide care in circumstances far removed from the conditions required for safe childbirth.
Her account of delivering 10 babies bare-handed underscores the extreme challenges faced by captives who are compelled to depend on whatever limited medical knowledge, supplies and assistance are available to them.
The nurse’s experience comes amid continuing concerns over kidnapping and insecurity in parts of Nigeria, where health workers and other civilians have increasingly faced risks while working or travelling through vulnerable communities.
The circumstances surrounding Salihu’s abduction, captivity and rescue could not be independently verified from authoritative sources at the time of publication. Details of her account should therefore be understood as her reported recollection of the ordeal.
Further confirmation from the police, security agencies, her employer or other official sources would be required to independently establish the circumstances of her abduction, rescue and the reported deliveries.
