176 abducted victims regain freedom in Kwara after nearly six months in captivity
No fewer than 176 abducted residents, mostly women and children, have regained their freedom nearly six months after they were kidnapped during a deadly terrorist attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The Kwara State Government announced the development on Wednesday, describing the victims' release as a major breakthrough.
The victims were abducted on 3 February 2026 when suspected Boko Haram-linked terrorists invaded the two communities on motorcycles in a coordinated attack that lasted several hours.
The assault reportedly claimed more than 200 lives, left several others injured, destroyed homes and businesses, and displaced thousands of residents. Some local vigilantes were also reportedly trapped and killed during the attack.
The victims spent about 184 days in captivity, with their families enduring months of uncertainty, failed negotiations, fundraising efforts and public appeals for their release.
Days before their freedom, relatives disclosed that kidnappers had rejected more than N155 million raised through donations, personal savings and the sale of valuables, insisting instead on direct negotiations with the governments of Kwara and Niger states, where many of the victims originated.
Last weekend, hundreds of residents, including women and youths, staged a peaceful protest in Kaiama, calling for urgent government intervention after more than five months of captivity.
Announcing the development, the Kwara State Government expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies and all those involved in securing the victims' release, describing it as a significant achievement.
Although authorities are yet to disclose the full details of the operation, community sources said security personnel, supported by armoured vehicles and gun trucks, moved into the forest earlier on Wednesday. The freed victims were reportedly handed over to a Federal Government-led rescue team before arrangements were made to transport them to Ilorin.
The release brings relief to affected families and communities in Kwara North, ending months of anxiety following repeated appeals by traditional rulers, civil society organisations and relatives for intensified rescue efforts.
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