176 Kidnap Victims Freed After Six Months in Captivity as Security Forces Rescue Women, Children in Kwara

A total of 176 people abducted from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have regained their freedom after spending six months in captivity.

The victims, most of whom are women and children, were kidnapped during an attack on Woro and the neighbouring Nuku community on February 3. Their release was confirmed on Wednesday following a rescue operation carried out by security personnel.

Announcing the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Communications, Ibraheem Abdullateef, said the victims were successfully rescued by security forces.

In a statement, the Kwara State Government expressed appreciation to the security agencies for the operation and also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the role played in securing the victims’ release.

According to the statement, the government welcomed the successful rescue and thanked everyone involved in the operation, describing it as a significant achievement.

Authorities, however, did not reveal how the rescue mission was executed. They also withheld information on whether any suspected kidnappers or insurgents were arrested during the operation.

The mass abduction attracted national attention earlier this year after a video surfaced online showing dozens of women and children held by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

The footage featured captives, including mothers carrying infants, who identified Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area as the place where they were abducted. Many of those seen in the video wore tattered clothing, while several children appeared visibly undernourished, raising concerns about their welfare during the months they spent in captivity.

The successful rescue marks the end of a six-month ordeal for the victims and their families, who had waited anxiously for their safe return. Security agencies have yet to provide further details on the operation or the next steps in the ongoing efforts to combat insecurity in the area.