Families of 176 residents abducted from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have appealed for urgent government intervention after terrorists allegedly rejected more than ₦155 million raised to secure the victims’ release.
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The victims, mostly women and children, have remained in captivity for nearly six months following the deadly attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities on February 3, 2026.
In a video made public on Thursday, leaders of the affected communities said families had exhausted their savings, sold personal belongings and organised community-wide contributions to meet the demands of the abductors.
They alleged that despite raising more than ₦155 million, the terrorists refused to accept the money, leaving negotiations at a standstill and deepening fears over the safety of the captives.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Abdul Ibrahim said residents had explored every available option, including peaceful protests and direct negotiations, without securing the release of a single person.
“We contributed more than ₦155 million because we believed it would bring our people home. Instead, the money was rejected and the suffering has continued,” Ibrahim said.
He appealed to the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government and security agencies to launch a decisive intervention, arguing that the communities had reached the limit of what they could accomplish without official assistance.
“Our appeal now is to the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government and the security agencies. We have reached the point where only a decisive government intervention can save these people,” he said.
Ibrahim further alleged that the terrorists had threatened to execute some of the abductees and force some of the female captives into marriage if their conditions were not met.
He said the alleged threat had thrown the victims’ families into greater fear, particularly as they had no certainty about the health or present condition of their loved ones.
The Dan Sardaukin Kaiama, Suleiman Bukata, also urged security agencies to carry out an intensive rescue operation in the area, saying the continued captivity of the victims had become unbearable for their relatives and communities.
Bukata said the successful rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of neighbouring Oyo State had renewed hopes that the Kwara victims could also be freed through a coordinated security operation.
“No Nigerian community should be left to face this kind of tragedy alone. If people could be rescued elsewhere, our people should not be forgotten,” he said.
Security forces rescued at least 39 schoolchildren and six teachers who were abducted from schools in Oriire on May 15. Eight suspected kidnappers were also reported to have been arrested during the operation.
The 176 Kwara residents were abducted when armed terrorists invaded Woro on February 3, killing residents and destroying homes and businesses.
Amnesty International reported in April that approximately 200 people were killed during the attack and that most of those abducted were women and children. A resident told the organisation that his wife and three daughters, including a two-year-old child, were among those taken away.
The abduction has triggered protests and repeated appeals by residents, youth groups, political organisations and community leaders demanding stronger government action.
Families maintained that the prolonged captivity had caused severe emotional and financial hardship, with many households losing both relatives and their sources of livelihood during the February attack.
They called on the authorities to intensify intelligence gathering and conduct a coordinated operation capable of locating the terrorists’ camps and returning the victims safely to their families.
The claim that the terrorists rejected more than ₦155 million and issued fresh threats was made by the victims’ families and community leaders and had not been independently confirmed by security agencies at the time of publication.
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