After nearly six months in terrorist captivity, 176 residents abducted during the deadly invasion of Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have finally regained their freedom.
The victims, who were kidnapped during the February 3, 2026 attack on the two communities, were released on Wednesday, bringing relief to families who had endured months of uncertainty, protests and desperate efforts to secure their freedom.
Announcing the development, the Kwara State Government, in a statement posted on its official Facebook page, described the release as a major breakthrough and expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, security agencies and everyone involved in the operation.
“Alhamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!”
Although authorities had not disclosed how the victims regained their freedom as of press time, multiple community sources told Daily Trust that heavily armed security personnel had earlier moved into the forest where the captives were believed to have been held.
A member of the community negotiation team, Aliyu Umar, said reports from residents indicated that the Federal Government had launched a rescue operation.
“We were hearing that the Federal Government was making moves. Information reaching me was that they had been handed over. People in Wawa saw several vehicles and Army armoured tanks heading into the forest,” he said.
The Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Salihu Umar, gave a similar account, saying information available to the community suggested that a Federal Government rescue team had entered the forest to receive the freed captives.
“We had not spoken with the victims ourselves at that point, but everything we were hearing suggested they had been handed over to the rescue team,” he said.
Also confirming the development, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, who played a key role in community efforts to secure the victims’ release, said the exact circumstances surrounding their freedom were still unclear.
“Yes, it is true. They are arranging vehicles to bring them to Ilọrin. We do not know exactly how they secured the release. We do not know whether there was any negotiation or ransom involved. At this stage, we simply do not know the circumstances,” he said.
The release marks the end of a traumatic ordeal that sparked widespread concern across Kwara State.
Only days earlier, hundreds of women, youths and community members staged a peaceful protest in Kaiama after the victims had spent 171 days in captivity, demanding urgent government intervention and stronger security around communities bordering the Kainji Lake National Park, which residents described as a major hideout for armed groups.
The breakthrough also came less than a week after families revealed that terrorists had rejected over ₦155 million painstakingly raised through donations, savings and the sale of personal belongings.
Speaking at the time, Dr. Ibrahim alleged that the abductors insisted they would negotiate only with the governments of Kwara and Niger states because many of the victims came from both states. He also claimed the gunmen had threatened to kill some captives while forcing female victims into marriage.
The 176 residents were abducted during the coordinated terrorist assault on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities on February 3, 2026. The attack claimed numerous lives, displaced hundreds of residents and destroyed homes and public infrastructure, prompting national outrage and the deployment of reinforced military operations ordered by President Tinubu.
