Kwara Celebrates: 176 Abducted Women & Children Freed After Six Months in Captivity

The Kwara State Government has officially confirmed the release of 176 women and children who were abducted from the Woro and Nuku communities in the Kaiama Local Government Area of the state. This significant development, which brings an end to approximately six months of captivity for the victims, was announced on Wednesday by Olayinka Fafoluyi, the media aide to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, via a Facebook post. Fafoluyi extended gratitude, stating, “Alhamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!”

While confirming the release, the state government, including officials like the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kwara State chapter, and Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, did not disclose the specific details of how the victims regained their freedom, nor whether any ransom was paid. Danladi, however, expressed immense appreciation to the Federal Government and security operatives for their role in securing the victims' freedom, noting that the released individuals were currently being held at the Wawa Military Cantonment in neighbouring Niger State. He further added that the Office of the Secretary to the State Government was arranging vehicles to transport them back to Ilorin, Kwara State.

The news was also met with excitement by other public officials. Saidu Baba Ahmed, the member representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, described the development as a major relief. “Yes, the Woro kidnap victims have been released. I’m very, very excited about this development. We give thanks to President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and our security operatives,” Ahmed stated.

Conversely, when contacted for official confirmation, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, stated he was yet to receive official notification. “I’m not aware, so I cannot confirm it. I made contacts to Kaiama Local Government; still, I couldn’t get concrete information,” the police commissioner remarked.

The mass abduction occurred during a brutal attack on the Woro community on February 3, 2024, when suspected terrorists stormed the area. The assault led to the deaths of scores of residents, with estimates ranging from 162 to 170 lives lost according to local sources, and up to 200 according to the Red Cross. More than 170 women and children were taken captive during this incident, which has been cited as one of the deadliest attacks in Kwara State in recent years. The violence also forced many residents to flee their homes, exacerbating concerns over the escalating insecurity in parts of Kwara and surrounding states.