171 Days in Captivity End as 176 Abducted Kwara Residents Regain Freedom

After nearly six months of fear, uncertainty and relentless appeals for help, no fewer than 176 residents abducted during the February 3 terrorist attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have finally regained their freedom.

The development, announced by the Kwara State Government on Wednesday, brings relief to families and communities that endured 171 days of anguish while awaiting the return of their loved ones.

In a statement shared on its official Facebook page, the state government described the release as a significant breakthrough and expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies and all those involved in securing the victims’ freedom.

“Alhamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!” the statement read.

Although official details surrounding the operation were still being withheld as of press time, reports from community members suggested that a major security operation may have preceded the victims’ release.

Sources in the affected communities told Daily Trust that military personnel, supported by armoured vehicles and other security assets, were seen moving into the forest earlier on Wednesday before news of the release began spreading.

Aliyu Umar, a resident and member of the community negotiation team working through a mediator, said information reaching the communities indicated that the Federal Government had launched a rescue mission.

According to him, residents of nearby Wawa community reported seeing several long vehicles escorted by Army armoured tanks heading into the forest.

“We had been hearing that the Federal Government was making efforts. Information reaching me suggested the victims had been handed over. People in Wawa saw several vehicles and Army armoured tanks moving into the forest,” he said.

The Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Salihu Umar, also confirmed receiving similar reports.

He explained that information available to the community indicated that a Federal Government rescue team entered the forest to take custody of the released victims.

Residents, he said, observed buses, military gun trucks and other security vehicles heading towards the area.

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“We had not spoken directly with the victims at that point, but everything we heard suggested they had been handed over to the rescue team,” he stated.

Dr Abdul Ibrahim, who played a key role in community efforts to secure the release of the captives, also confirmed the development but said details remained unclear.

“Yes, it is true. They are arranging vehicles to transport them to Ilorin. We do not know exactly how their freedom was secured. We do not know whether there was any negotiation or ransom involved. At this stage, the circumstances remain unclear,” he said.

The victims’ release marks a dramatic end to months of uncertainty that triggered protests, emotional appeals and desperate efforts by families seeking their freedom.

Just days earlier, hundreds of residents, women and youths staged a peaceful demonstration in Kaiama, calling on authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the captives after they had spent 171 days in terrorist custody.

The protesters marched through major streets carrying placards and urging the Federal Government to strengthen security operations around communities bordering the Kainji Lake National Park, which they described as a haven for criminal groups.

The breakthrough also came less than a week after families revealed that terrorists had reportedly rejected more than ₦155 million painstakingly raised through community donations, personal savings and the sale of valuables.

Speaking on behalf of affected families at the time, Dr Ibrahim disclosed that the abductors allegedly refused the money and insisted they would only negotiate directly with the governments of Kwara and Niger states, noting that many of the captives were from both states.

He further alleged that the terrorists had threatened to kill some of the victims and force female captives into marriage, deepening fears among relatives and community members.

The 176 residents were kidnapped during a coordinated terrorist assault on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities on February 3. The attack left hundreds dead, displaced numerous families and destroyed homes as well as public infrastructure.

The massacre sparked widespread outrage across the country and prompted President Tinubu to order reinforced military deployments and intensified security operations across Kaiama and surrounding communities.

With the captives now freed, families and residents are celebrating what many describe as a long-awaited miracle, while awaiting official details on one of the largest rescue outcomes recorded in the region in recent months.