Residents of Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State who were abducted during a deadly attack earlier this year have finally regained their freedom after spending about six months in captivity.
The development was announced on Wednesday by Olayinka Fafoluyi, media aide to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, security agencies and everyone who contributed to securing the victims’ release.
“Alhamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!” Fafoluyi wrote.
The victims were kidnapped on February 3 after heavily armed attackers invaded Woro, Nuku and other nearby communities in Kaiama LGA.
The coordinated attacks reportedly claimed the lives of at least 75 people, displaced many residents and left several communities in ruins.
Although the exact number of those kidnapped has not been officially confirmed, reports at the time estimated that about 170 women, children and other residents were taken away by the attackers.
In April, one of the victims appeared in a viral video recorded from captivity, making an emotional appeal to the Kwara State Government to intensify efforts to rescue them.
Surrounded by other abductees, including women, children and elderly victims, she revealed that the group had remained in captivity for over two months.
“We are from Woro in Kaiama Local Government. We were taken on February 3, and today is April 8. This is the last opportunity they have given us,” she pleaded in the video.
The release of the victims has brought relief to their families and communities after months of uncertainty and fear.
However, authorities have yet to disclose the circumstances surrounding their freedom, including whether any ransom was paid or if the victims were rescued through a security operation.
Efforts to obtain further details from the Kwara State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
