Families of 176 residents kidnapped in Kwara State have warned that hope of securing their relatives’ release through negotiation has collapsed after terrorists allegedly rejected a ransom of over ₦155 million raised by local communities.
The abductees have remained in captivity since 3 February, when armed assailants launched a deadly attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities in the Kaiama Local Government Area, leaving scores dead and scores more carted away in what observers described as a massacre.
Nearly six months after the assault, community leaders released an emotional video appeal, explaining how desperate residents emptied their savings, sold personal valuables, and organised mass collections to meet the captors’ demands, only for the money to be turned down.
Accusing authorities of failing to resolve the prolonged crisis, relatives now fear for the captives’ lives following chilling new threats from the gunmen. Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Abdul Ibrahim revealed that the terrorists have threatened to execute some of the victims and force female captives into marriage.
“We contributed more than N155m because we believed it would bring our people home. Instead, the money was rejected and the suffering has continued,” Ibrahim said.
Having exhausted every alternative, including public demonstrations and direct talks, Ibrahim stressed that community efforts have yielded no results and urged the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government, and security forces to intervene decisively.
Adding to the calls for action, the Dan Sardaukin Kaiama, Suleiman Bukata, pointed to a recent successful rescue operation in neighbouring Oyo State as proof that military intervention could free those held in Kaiama’s forest camps.
“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.
With hundreds of families left in agonising uncertainty, local leaders insist that only an immediate, intensive security operation can prevent further loss of life and bring the missing residents h