Kwara Kidnappers Reject N155m Ransom, Threaten to Marry Female Captives
Kwara State is facing a dual security challenge, with 176 residents abducted in Woro community still held captive despite ransom efforts, while a recent DSS-led operation successfully rescued nine victims in Ekiti LGA. Families in Woro appeal for government intervention as kidnappers threaten to harm captives, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced security measures across the region.
Kwara State continues to grapple with severe insecurity, as evidenced by two contrasting events: a large-scale abduction in Woro community with devastating consequences for victims' families, and a successful rescue operation in Ekiti Local Government Area. These incidents underscore the persistent threat of kidnapping in the region and the varied responses from both communities and security forces.
In the Woro community of Kaiama Local Government Area, families of 176 residents abducted by terrorists on February 3, 2026, are living in anguish. The kidnappers allegedly issued a chilling threat, warning they would force the “beautiful” female captives into marriage and kill the remaining hostages if their demands were not met. Despite the affected communities raising over N155 million through contributions, the terrorists reportedly rejected the ransom, prolonging the captives' suffering. Abdul Ibrahim, a Kaiama indigene, confirmed these threats in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, detailing how the abductors warned of dire consequences if their conditions were not met. He appealed to both the Kwara State and Federal Governments, along with security agencies, to intensify efforts, stating that families had exhausted all available options, including unsuccessful peaceful protests.
Suleiman Bukata, the Dan Sardaukin Kaiama, echoed these pleas, specifically urging the Federal Government and security agencies to replicate the successful rescue efforts recently seen in Oyo State for the Kaiama victims. He emphasized that hundreds of Kaiama residents had endured months in captivity and deserved immediate attention, highlighting that every additional day intensified the victims' danger and hardship. The rescue of Oyo victims, he noted, had offered a glimmer of hope to the families in Kaiama that their loved ones could also be freed.
In a more positive development, a coordinated operation led by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, resulted in the rescue of nine kidnapped victims and the killing of three suspected bandits. The fierce gun battle took place in the Obbo Aiyegunle, Ejiu Ora, and Osi axis of Ekiti Local Government Area, a region bordering Ekiti and Niger states. The operation, which also involved the Kwara State Forest Guards, local hunters, and vigilantes, saw security forces intercept a group of over ten kidnappers. These bandits had assembled victims abducted from various locations, including farmers seized from their farmlands and others previously taken in neighboring Ekiti State, who were being moved through the forest.
Prince Dada Sunday, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Ekiti Local Government, confirmed the successful mission, attributing it to intelligence gathered by security agencies. One of the rescued victims, Umaru Muazu of Obbo Aiyegunle, recounted his ordeal, describing how armed men suddenly appeared, pointed a gun at his head, and abducted him and his son, also taking his friend’s motorcycle. Another farmer, Ibrahim Danga, confirmed they had been held captive before the security operatives engaged the kidnappers. During the rescue, one victim sustained serious head injuries after resisting abduction and was cut with a machete, though he is now responding to treatment. Owolabi Adebayo, a member of the Kwara Forest Guards, highlighted the heavy armament of the bandits and appealed for more operational equipment, including body armour, binoculars, night vision goggles, walkie-talkies, and ammunition, to more effectively confront such threats. The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, noted that the DSS oversees the forest guard in the state, emphasizing that this rescue operation is part of ongoing security offensives against kidnapping gangs in Kwara.
Senator Adamu Aliero, commenting on the broader security situation in northern Nigeria, acknowledged that growing insecurity remains a significant concern. However, he argued that the Federal Government should not be solely blamed for inadequate funding of security operations, stating that the National Assembly has consistently approved funding requests from security agencies to support the fight against terrorism.